Changes in the law

Just checked highway code and drivers should give way to pedestrians who have already started to cross when turning off a main road.

I think it's as well as a pedestrian to look behind you in that situation before crossing though.

I don't think pedestrians have right of way when a car is turning into a road. They do have right of way for crossing at T-junctions when a car wants to turn out of a road, though a lot of drivers don't seem to know this so it's as well to pay attention and try to catch a driver's eye.

The only time I've had to do an emergency stop was long before mobile phones. A bus travelling the opposite way to me stopped to let people off. I was going fairly slowly, even for a 30mph zone because I was approaching a junction. A young man/teenager simply stepped out without looking from behind the bus to cross the half of the road I was in. I slammed the brakes on and missed him with a mere inch to spare! He looked shocked and went pale! I raised my hands in a "What the **!" way. I was so glad my kids were well strapped in in the back of the car because they'd have been through the windscreen otherwise!

When I learnt to drive I was told pedestrians have right of way . . . full stop, so you are right.
However the young man simply walked into the road just in front of the van without looking at anything except his phone. You have to take some responsibility for your own safety.

Doesn't the pedestrian have right of way if they are crossing when a vehicle is turning?

If the van was turning into the road the man was crossing then the pedestrian had the right of way.
No flippin excuse for not paying attention when crossing the road. Why do they have to walk and check phone at the same time like the man who walked into the path of my friend's mobility scooter on the pavement and was then threatening and abusive to her. A large gentleman near by told the 'phone guy' not to be such a d**k