Pavement allergy???

There seems to be a number of people in the Neath/Port Talbot area suffering a pavement allergy.  Twice this week I passed older women (old enough to know better) walking down the middle of the road.  Each time I gave a little toot on the horn as a warning and they then go onto the pavement, only to walk back into the road after I pass. 
Now if the pavements were blocked I wouldn't say anything but I actually looked both times and the pavements were clear.
Barking mad or what? with the amount of traffic we get these days it's bloody suicidal to walk down the middle of the road, we raelly need it to be made an offence like many other countries.