woodman wrote:

But straying only slightly off-topic, I took advantage of my freedom
pass to go to Amersham on Easter Monday, and after walking down via
Parsonage wood, and the Martyrs field, to the Old Town, I then took
a public footpath which emerged on the A413. I could see the sign
for the path's continuation across the road, but with cars and
motorbikes zooming past so fast, I didn't dare try and cross it. I
had been thinking of bringing a party of friends this way some time
in the future, probably with kids, but it's back to the map/drawing
board. Are there, or should there be any speed restrictions at
places like that? I might have had right of way legally, but I
wasn't brave enough to test it.

Was that the path that runs west parallel to and south of the High
Street? There may be an alternative route across the A413 at the
junction just north-west of there.

In any case, you wouldn't have had a right of way with priority over
other traffic. You're in the same situation as the driver of a vehicle
emerging from a minor road. Surely you're not suggesting that speed
limits are imposed at every rural road junction?
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)