Vias points out that it has been 30 years since the highway code was amended to better protect pedestrians crossing at a crossing. However, a study in eleven European countries shows that 92 percent of Belgian pedestrians who want to enter a crossing are regularly prevented by a driver who does not stop.
Yet eight in ten drivers know that they must give way to pedestrians who are at a crossing, but also when they are about to enter it. Failure to give way is an offense of the third degree, for which a driver can receive a fine of 174 euros plus administration costs.
Injury accident
An analysis of pedestrian accidents over the past ten years shows that on average one in three pedestrians involved in an injury accident was using a crossing at the time, with or without traffic lights. When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle while crossing the street, they are usually in a crosswalk without traffic lights or police. In contrast, more than one in five pedestrians involved in a crash were struck by a vehicle while the pedestrian was crossing the road outside a crosswalk.
“In order not to endanger pedestrians crossing, it is crucial to comply with the priority rules near zebra crossings and to slow down at every crossing where someone can cross,” Vias said. “On both sides, politeness and clearly stating your intentions helps to avoid misunderstandings and accidents.”
