Can anyone explain why so many people in the UK insist on walking on the right?

Question

Can anyone explain why so many people insist on walking on the right even though this means they are often walking close to the road with their backs towards the oncoming traffic? Not a safe thing to do, surely!

Answer 1

either you're not in the UK, or you need to work on your "right" and "left".

Answer 2

Old public information road safety films.

"Keep to the right and you'll never go wrong,

You'll see what's coming along"

Current Highway code advice is to face oncoming traffic.

Answer 3

Yeah I agree... very strange how they drive on the left, but walk on the right over here.  And don't get us started on the standing on the right on the escalator thing!!

Answer 4

If there's no footpath/pavement, you walk on the right so you are FACING oncoming traffic. If you mean on a pavement, it's just traditional that the gentleman walks on the outside in order to protect the lady from splashes, mud, traffic etc.

Answer 5

The highway code says that pedestrians on a road with no footpath should walk on the right so that they can see oncoming traffic.