Have people stopped giving a shit when crossing the road?

[whywei]

Twice in a matter of days I've had to slam my breaks on to avoid hitting a pedestrian crossing the road whilst on the phone. Both times neither were looking at traffic but just in their own bubble walkng as slow as possible (guy today was even smiling to himself). I'm talking big roads - in fact, I remember an old man dying in the exact spot I came across today (when I was a child).

I'm usually a live and let live kind of person but this seems to be happening more and more.

Do people have no self-preservation instinct?

[whywei]

90% of the time they don't even realise they were almost hit!

[gamerchick]

I'm pretty sure I have suicidal people wanting to get hit sometimes. They look me dead in the eye when I've had to put the brakes on coming around a corner. Gives me the heebies. I don't turn corners that fast anyway but some people take them far too fast and could hit them.

Then there's the elderly men who have to fucks left and will cross where and whatever speed they want.

[BananaPlant]

A few times in the last week I’ve had teenagers crossing the road in front of me. They just walk slowly across the road as if the whole world will stop for them. They don’t give a shit. One of them kept staring at me as he crossed, as if trying to prove a point. Idiots.

I work in a hospital, I would love to take some of them to ITU and show them what happens if you get hit by a car.

[BogglesGoggles]

Natural selection at play

[Dieu]

It's bizarre, isn't it? If I'm crossing the road - which I generally do with care - and then think 'shit, that car's a bit close for comfort', I'll jog over the road which I hate doing cos I'm a fattie. It wouldn't occur to me to simply saunter across, as if without a care in the world, and worse still, act like it's the driver's fault!

[ISawyouinTescoyesterday]

I think yes they have....

[BigFatLiar]

Wasn't there a court case recently of someone in London being hit by a cyclist while crossing the road, not looking but busy with his phone. He got damages because apparently the cyclist should have been on the lookout for people wandering across the road not paying attention. (The cyclist was also badly injured but didn't get damages from the jaywalker). So be careful as you drive along,you seem to be responsible now for jaywalkers safety.

[Ihopeyourcakeisshit]

I have the opposite experience to @gamerchick
I find people almost deliberately don't look, as if not acknowledging there is a car coming towards you makes it non existent.

[ItsPeanutButterJelly]

As a driver, I agree that this has got worse. I do, however, think the way we prioritise the car over pedestrians needs to change and the onus shouldn't be on pedestrians to seek outa designated crossing point, stop their phone conversations and speed up to make sure they cross before a car is upon them. People travelling sustainably (on foot, bike, public transport) should have priority over private vehicles 100% of the time.

As I said, I agree that pedestrians are less "respectful" of cars but I wonder if it's a sign that things need to change in the way we plan movement around cities, towns and villages.

[ItsPeanutButterJelly]

And to add, as drivers who, thanks to failures in transport planning in the past and cuts to public transport, are forced into cars, perhaps we should be a little more aware, a little more accommodating, more amenable to slowing to let someone on foot finish crossing and not be so quick to anger

[KatherineJaneway]

I've noticed this too but slightly different. Waiting at a red man to cross you get someone who pushes to the front and starts crossing the road. They look up and realise that the road is full of moving traffic do they take one small step, back then another, then another until they are back on the pavement. It's like they think 20 people are just standing there waiting by the side of an empty road 🙄

[Mumshappy]

I'm on the other side. I walk everywhere and the amount of drivers who don't indicate is unbelievable. I never know when I can cross the road.

[Perisoire]

It's pedestrians relying on motorists to watch out for them which is bonkers!

Even parents with pushchairs are at it.

[Mammylamb]

I can see both sides.

Where I live it is dreadful for there being a lack of crossings. And inconsiderate parking means you are dicing with death crossing with a pram, guide dog or wheelchair. I usually end up shouting across the road at some poor person asking them to tell me when it’s safe to cross. Many town planners are drivers and do not take pedestrians (especially those with prams) into consideration. And there should be a special place in hell for drivers who park across the pavement meaning those with prams, buggies, wheelchairs and visually impaired need to walk on the road. A group of workmen got a right earful from me about it the other week

[Tonnerre]

I doubt that your car has breaks. If it does, you shouldn't be in it at all.

[whywei]

*brakes for the pendants

[Homemadearmy]

Funnily enough I was just thinking the same thing last thing last night when someone crossed in front so me again. Early this week I had a group of 3 people just step on the road and cross without looking, the 4 member of the group looked seen me was looked shocked at how close I was. The other 3 merrily continued on there way. None of them were on a phone.
Last name night a older man, looked saw me and still crossed in front of me. Totally bizarre behaviour. Both times I had to stop.

[Madein1995]

To be fair, I don't cross in busy traffic (too scaredy cat ish to risk it) but I've become less overly cautious since moving to city. I cross either on green or when a car is far enough away I can dart across. Sometimes I'm crossing when the green light knocks off, when I'm half across. In those situations no I don't rush. Mainly because a) I cba b) I'm tired from walking from town and c) my knees hurt.

I trust that the cars (stationary at this point) will see a pedestrian, decide their hunk of metal is lethal and decide not to kill me, as they will otherwise go to prison. Some fucking knobs have driven around me, which is annoying

[ivykaty44]

Drivers need to slow down and chill, you came along just over 100 years ago and you need to stop taking over

[RosaWaiting]

I’ve noticed this
I’m on the bus a lot and people run out in front, cyclists tuck themselves in close....

I don’t believe they are suicidal so what are they doing?

I was in Battersea the other day and was shocked at how little time was given at crossings - are Londoners just giving up and darting across the road willy nilly?

[ivykaty44]

It's pedestrians relying on motorists to watch out for them which is bonkers!

Drivers should be watching out for vulnerable road users www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/road-users-requiring-extra-care-204-to-225

Indeed pedestrians should cross the road as outlined in HC but motorists are driving machines that can easily kill & the onus is on them to look out for people on the road

[managedmis]

Yah people don't give a fuck anymore

[bakebeans]

I said the exact thing to my husband the other day. It’s as if they own the road
The worst has been school children who just step out in front of the car and expect you to stop. One was calling me very derogatory names because I dared to tell him off for almost causing an accident

[HunterAngel]

It’s definitely getting worse. The teenagers are the worst, seemingly convinced of their own immortality and sure that the world will just stop because they’ve decided that they must cross the road at that precise moment and place. They totally fail to take any responsibility for their own safety

[SudowoodoVoodoo]

As a driver, I'm aware that I'm driving a tonne of metal that could seriously harm others and watch out for other road users.

As a pedestrian I'm aware that other people are driving a tonne of metal that could seriously harm me, so I watch out for other road users.

Vehicles can't magically stop if a pedestrian randomly steps out with no warning signs and pedestrians have a responsibility towards themselves.