to assume that people should STOP at a pedestrian crossing rather than speed up...

[Grumpla]

Walked to the shops this afternoon with my baby in his sling, facing outwards for the first time, having a lovely time. I crossed at my usual pedestrian crossing (right outside the primary school) and was about halfway across when a man in a blue car began ACCELERATING TOWARDS ME!!!! Seriously, he was waaaay down the road when I stepped on to the crossing. It wasn't dark yet. And I was wearing a bright red coat.

He was about ten metres away when I realised he wasn't actually going to slow down or stop - he appeared to be rummaging in his glove box. AND ACCELERATING. At the same time.

Cue superwoman-type leap across the rest of the road, bashed into a wall on the other side, screamed "it's a fing pedestrian crossing you w**". He noticed me just as I hit the wall and shrugged. SHRUGGED!

And a bloke walking towards me on the pavement looked me up and down and gave me a DISAPPROVING GLARE. Like, being a sweet young mummy with a baby means that I shouldn't swear at people even when they almost flatten us both.

I'm so angry still! I was shaking for about twenty minutes afterwards. This has actually made me feel really nervous about carrying him in the sling on roads. Which is a bit irrational really as if I'd had to get the pram up the kerb we'd probably have been hit.

Now I feel weird and cross and panicky and like I want to stay in my house forever. Near-death experiences have this effect on anyone else? And was I being unreasonable to swear at him? How else does one deal with such a situation?

[SmallScrewCap]

Near-nasty experience for you and baby is bound to shake you up and bring out your protective, shouty, swearing side. Glad you're both all right.

YANBU at all. Was it a zebra crossing? Better to wait and make sure people will stop at those (which they should), but you probably know that.

[sdr]

Very nasty. Hope you're feeling a bit better - good refluxes. I yelled at a guy on a bike once who swerved past DC and I as we were already a few feet onto the crossing. I screamed at him and he rode back where he told my DC's I was a terrible mother and felt sorry for them. It was only as I started dialling the Police he took off again. Another couple of pedestrians stopped in disbelief at what he said. You were not being unreasonable to swear, pity you didn't get his licence plate.

[purpleduck]

oooh This is a serious pet peeve of mine. Akin to barging past someone I think

[RussianDolls]

YANBU

What a prick!!

[Grumpla]

Yes. He was a prick. I feel a bit better now.

I really wish I had got his licence plate. The red mist stopped me reading it in time. I would DEFINITELY have reported him to the police - especially as the crossing is just outside a school (although outside of school hours) and next to a park, I see lots of kids racing across there just assuming that it's safe.

This is that mummy tiger thing they talk about, right?

[StealthPolarBear]

what an idiot. Shame you didn't get his licence plate - but then you never can think clearly in these situations . I had the opposite, was driving up to what i thought was an empty crossing when I realised the guy coming the other way was stopped at it. I slammed my brakes on, assuming he knew something I didn't (mobility scooter or child hidden from my view) - it was only when the cars behind him started passing him I realised he'd actually stopped there! Not pulled over, no lights on, and right in front of a crossing - what an idiot!!

[chocolatefudgebrownie]

We have a pedestrian crossing near our home and I loathe crossing with the DC's , as we have nearly been mown down by these lunatics so many times. I wish the police would do more. Makes me