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Actually the law in the UK is that Pedestrian's usually don't have the right of way outside of designated crossing areas [0]. Drivers are considered to have a "Heavy Duty of Care" since they are of course driving large dangerous vehicles and pedestrians are more vulnerable, but they still have the right of way on your average road.

Road death rate is a very broad statistic. As an EU citizen living in the US, there are certainly more differences than road-crossing rules and etiquette. For one, population density is almost an order of magnitude more sparse in the US (36 people / km^2) vs the uk (275 people /km^2). This, among other things means there's a dramatic shift in driving norms. There are also major cultural differences, eg talking on the phone while driving in Ireland is taboo (and illegal), but in Boston it's totally normal (and perfectly legal). Drink driving here is far more acceptable too. The list goes on and on.

[0]https://www.birchallblackburn.co.uk/do-pedestrians-always-ha...



Sure, but right-of-way isn't this bulletproof defence. You can have right-of-way and still be prosecuted for hitting a ped.


It's probably still normal to talk on the phone while driving in Boston, but it's no longer legal unless hands-free.




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