RULES ARE FOR EVERYONE

By the beginning of 2026, the dynamics of urban traffic flows are dictating new rules of coexistence. Despite the widespread introduction of “smart city” systems, the fundamental principle of road traffic remains unchanged: at a pedestrian crossing, priority belongs to the person on foot. This rule is not merely a line in a legal code, but a humanistic standard that recognises the vulnerability of a pedestrian in the face of a multi-tonne vehicle. At the same time, law enforcement practice and road incident statistics show that the absolutisation of the slogan “the pedestrian is always right” can at times become a dangerous illusion, one that leads to tragedy.

A subtle line of responsibility

Preventive measures regularly carried out by the traffic police are aimed at eradicating the dangerous habit among drivers of ignoring those crossing the carriageway. The law is unequivocal: when making a turn, a driver is obliged to give way to all road users who are on the trajectory of the vehicle’s movement, including cyclists. Yet behind the dry figures of official reports lies another reality. Quite often, the source of a dangerous situation is the pedestrian themselves, who, having come to believe in their own “inviolability”, forgets about the laws of physics and the need for basic caution.

Statistical data for the past year point to an alarming trend: a significant proportion of collisions on crosswalks occur due to the so-called “suddenness factor”. Pedestrians, often absorbed in their smartphones or hidden behind hoods, step onto the roadway without first making sure that it is safe to do so. In such conditions, even a driver who is observing the speed limit becomes a hostage to circumstances, when the vehicle’s braking distance turns out to be longer than the distance to the person.

A protection strategy for drivers

In an environment where public opinion is inclined a priori to blame the person behind the wheel, it is crucial for drivers to have the means to prove their case. In the legal reality of 2026, video recording plays a decisive role. The presence of a high-quality traffic recorder aboard with a full field of view is no longer a luxury, but the only effective way to confirm that a pedestrian ran onto the road in violation of the rules or crossed on a prohibitory signal.

Safe driving behaviour requires anticipatory thinking. An experienced motorist understands that approaching a pedestrian crossing should involve not merely slowing down, but being fully prepared for emergency action. Maximum safety is achieved through visual contact: if the driver can see the pedestrian’s eyes and is confident that the person is aware of the approaching vehicle, the risk of an incident is reduced many times over. It is also important to remember that in court proceedings, judges often rely on the concept of a “technical possibility to avoid a collision”. Demonstrating the absence of such a possibility is the only path to exoneration for a driver.

A conscious pedestrian's code of conduct

For pedestrians, safety must take precedence over awareness of their legal right of way. Being right in theory but injured in practice is a dubious achievement. Truly safe behaviour on the road begins with a simple understanding: a car cannot stop instantly. A responsible pedestrian should pause before stepping onto a crosswalk, clearly signal their intention and make sure that all approaching vehicles are genuinely slowing down.

The way out of a situation in which one side is always deemed guilty lies in mutual respect and the recognition of shared responsibility. Safety is not only about braking systems and keeping distance, but also about a culture of predictability. As long as drivers and pedestrians continue to view each other as adversaries rather than partners in traffic, statistics will keep recording grim numbers. Genuine safety begins where blind faith in the letter of the law ends and attentive regard for human life begins.

A mirror of responsibility

Statistics are the most impartial judge when it comes to road safety. The results of 2025 in Azerbaijan demonstrate not only cautious optimism, but also expose deep systemic problems. According to official data from the Main State Traffic Police Department, 1,252 road traffic accidents were recorded in the country over the past year, claiming 689 lives. Although the overall number of incidents declined compared to previous periods, the share of collisions involving pedestrians remains critically high—around 40% of all accidents. The main causes cited include pedestrians crossing the roadway in undesignated places and a negligent attitude towards road safety requirements.

Particular attention should be paid to the work of law enforcement agencies in curbing violations by pedestrians themselves. Public consciousness often entrenches the image of the driver as the sole offender, yet the figures tell a different story. In just eight months of 2025, traffic police fined more than 24,500 pedestrians for crossing the road in prohibited places or against a red signal. Under Article 338 of the Code of Administrative Offences, crossing in an undesignated area carries a fine of ₼20. This measure is not a means of replenishing the budget, but an attempt, through discipline, to save the lives of those accustomed to ignoring the rules to save a few minutes.

Legal balance and the price of error

Within contemporary law enforcement practice, the principle that “the pedestrian is always right” is increasingly being critically reassessed in courtrooms. For drivers who find themselves unjustly accused, the solution lies in the collection of objective evidence. Expert assessments measuring braking distance, analysing reaction time and reviewing footage from “Safe City” cameras increasingly demonstrate that if a pedestrian violated the rules—for example, by running out from behind an obstacle that limited visibility—the driver was physically unable to prevent the collision. In such cases, administrative and criminal liability is lifted from the motorist, as the law cannot demand the impossible.

By early 2026, road safety has become not only a technical issue, but an ethical one as well. For drivers, the highest level of safety lies in the “three-second rule” and constant scanning of roadside areas in residential zones. For pedestrians, it means a complete refusal to use gadgets while crossing and an understanding that a bright vest or reflective element at dusk makes a person visible from 150 metres, not 10. Only through awareness of these figures and the personal responsibility of every road user can we transform roads from zones of heightened risk into a safe space for life.