For those who don't know in Holland any collision between a predestrian or bicycle and a car, no matter whos fault, the car driver is always charged. They have also pioneered nude roads where there are no lines .... or street furniture to seperate predestrians and vehicles. It actually reduces accidents by forcing all involved to be aware of the others... and frequent eye contact means that things become safer.
I think that would also apply in the UK, whether it's actually written down or not. Then there's the fact that very few pedestrians or cyclists are insured, even 3rd party cover. I read somewhere that they seriously intend trying that free-for-all idea in London. Forget the details now. It might work in Holland but somehow I don't see it working here. It's bad enough already & if that ever becomes popular I'm gonna become a full-time pedestrian myself. Maybe that's the idea behind it.
I'm not saying they're all like it by any means but the whole attitude of pedestrians seems to have changed in recent years. Maybe it's because there are more cars around now & most families own at least one. Most adult pedestrians are also drivers themselves but in some cases they seem to forget that when they're on foot.
PS. One of the best tricks I figured out years ago. You see someone start running across the road to pass directly in front of you. They have plenty of time to cross if they keep running but they don't. When they reach the middle of the road they slow down to walking pace & defy you to hit them, making you brake to avoid doing this. I would almost bet money on this happening to me at least once every time I go out on the road. I'm used to it now & slow down when they first step off the pavement*. I sometimes get the feeling my car is invisible.
It's even more annoying when there's a pedestrian crossing a few yards up the road.
*PPS. That's what we call sidewalks in the UK.
And they say there is to many accidents in this town...Gee, wonder why :-/ 
