A recent survey found that 1-in-3 drivers admit to splashing pedestrians with puddles, intentionally and unintentionally.
As the weather gets worse, rain and wet roads not only cause an issue for drivers but also for pedestrians too. For pedestrians, wet roads bring the possibility of getting drenched by a passing car when walking along the side of the road.
As a driver, it’s important to take extra care when driving through puddles to avoid splashing pedestrians on the side of the road. If you deliberately splash a pedestrian, you could be charged with “careless and inconsiderate driving” under the road traffic act 1988.
Uswitch car insurance expert, Florence Codjoe, said:
“Drivers who deliberately splash pedestrians on the pavement are breaking the law and could face being fined from £100 to £5,000, along with receiving three penalty points.
“It’s always important to take extra caution when driving in wet weather and slow down when you see a pedestrian walking by.”
Splashing pedestrians deliberately
Believe it or not, there are some drivers out there who would deliberately soak pedestrians. In fact, 1-in-18 drivers across the UK have admitted to intentionally splashing a pedestrian on the side of the road. If you’re someone who would consider splashing a pedestrian on purpose, it’s worth remembering that you risk a fine of up to £5,000 for doing so.
However, not all drivers are inconsiderate; the survey also found that nearly half of UK motorists said they would feel terrible if they splashed a pedestrian.
On the other hand, 1 in 8 drivers in Yorkshire admitted they would feel no guilt at all for splashing a pedestrian.
A pupil taking driving lessons in Wakefield, who was recently soaked on her way to work, said:
“I wish that drivers would be more considerate towards people walking on the side of the road, especially when it’s wet or raining. I was walking to the bus stop one morning to get to work, and a car drove straight through a puddle and completely drenched me. I had to go home and get changed before catching the bus; it was at this moment I decided it was time to get my driving licence!”
The most cautious drivers
From the survey, it was shown that women are more cautious drivers than men, with 10% more women than men saying they would drive around a puddle to avoid splashing a pedestrian.
Older drivers also came out as the more considerate road users, with 52% of drivers over the age of 55 saying they would avoid driving through puddles, in comparison to just 25% of drivers under the age of 24.
Liverpool came out on top when it comes to locations, 52% of motorists in Liverpool who took part in the survey said they would avoid splashing pedestrians.
