Its a zebra crossing for goodness sake!!!!!!

I'm not British....I nearly always give a little "thank-you" acknowledgment to drivers who do bother to stop for me (especially when I am with DS1 and/or DS2.

In most of Europe most drivers don't stop anyway (except in countries like Austria - when they did stop for us the first time after being in France and Italy I was shocked!), so I still think it is nice of drivers to stop.

Same as I like it too when pedestrians I stop for acknowledge it.

I don't think there's anything wrong with being nice to each other!

What a bizarre very British thread.

I have never given 'thank yous' at zebra crossings much thought.

God, are we only polite by regulation now?

Say "thank you". It's nice.

i usually say thank you, nod, smile or something but dont feel i have to at a zebra crossing.

the other day i was waiting at a zebra crossing with my kids for the green man, even though the traffic was at a standstill (backed up from the lights at the end of the road). "look at this bunch of t**ts" says another girl waiting, to her friend, indicating us.

so they crossed, and nearly got hit by a motorbike zooming up the middle. "now who are the "t**ts" i thought.

It doesn't cost anything to smile or wave a thank you. And the fact that someone is meant to do something doesn't mean it's not polite to acknowledge that they have. The bus driver is meant to take me from one place to another and drop me off when I ask, so should I not thank him either? Or the crossing warden, who is meant to stop the traffic for me?

I've taught dd to thank people who stop at crossings; it's basic manners, IMO.

That's OK as long as he realises that what you're mouthing is thank you.....

Yep - that's what I do,Lovecat

Why do people feel they have to wave to say thank you? I always make eye contact wiht the driver, nod and mouth 'thank you' at them, whilst both hands are occupied manhandling dd across the road.

If nothing else, it teaches dd good manners too... wouldn't dream of not thanking someone for stopping for me.

Abroad is the worst as most drivers there will speed UP if they see someone crossing and they will beep all the time.
I just kick their cars at they go by and shout through their window if its open .
Ohh i'm in a mood today!
AB

I drive past a school on my way to work. Outside it there is a pedestrian crossing, with a lollipop man. It's the sort that doesn't have flashing amber, just the normal traffic light sequence (ie green, amber, red, red/amber, green etc etc). It's amazing how many people go through the lights when they are still on red, just because the lollipop man has crossed the people over, and there's no one else crossing. It's as though they can't see the red light.

He always looks intently at the car, so I hope he is noting the registration and reports them all, stupid idiots...

I don't usually acknowledge drivers at lights or zebras when crossing but as a driver go absolutely mad if people don't just put a hand up in thanks when crossing at non-crossings...

ooh Mrs Who, we had that happen the other day. Not one but three cars went through on red. Luckily DH was behind me with the pram

And what about the people who don't stop at pedestrian crssings and the traffic lights are on red we had that the other day and the bloke just missed us

I don't expect people to thank me, although it's nice, but I always nod or smile at a driver who stops for us.

Very sensible KerryMum.
However, if someone was waiting at a crossing and I had some Barryboy up my rear end, I would be inclined not to stop for fear of said Barryboy driving into the back of my car. Happily this is a rare occurance.
If there was someone crossing then I would have to stop because the Highway Code says that I must.
The Highway code says that drivers need to avoid harsh braking and accelarating as a driver behind may not have sufficient time to react accordingly and therefore could cause an accident, which is why the Highway Code says that you only must stop when someone is on the crossing (even if it just a foot!). This is also because (especially on a busy street) it is much easier to spot a person who is on the crossing or just stepping onto the crossing than it is to spot someone who is standing on the pavement waiting to cross (especially when you have idiots who think that the "no parking next to a zebra crossing" couldn't possibly apply to them).
Which is why I slow down on approach to give pedestrians who may wish to cross time to step onto the crossing and for me to come to a complete stop in a safe manner, but also so that I don't impede traffic flow or cause undue alarm to the person behind me if there isn't.

I don't move onto a crossing until the driver has slowed down or stopped or indicated that they will be stopping, in both directions.

ScummyMummy - absolutely. Which is what I do. So the OP is not unreasonable.

171: Zebra crossings. As you approach a zebra crossing

• look out for people waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop to let them cross
• you MUST give way when someone has moved onto a crossing
• allow more time for stopping on wet or icy roads
• do not wave people across; this could be dangerous if another vehicle is approaching
• be aware of pedestrians approaching from the side of the crossing. Law ZPPPCR reg 25

I think that implies an obligation to look out for pedestrians and stop.

I do sometimes give a little wave as a thank you, but you can't remember all the time and I don't expect others to do it back.

I do wave if I am frog marching a group of school children out on a school trip....and I stand in the road like a wind turbine swinging my arms in a forward motion!

I think it is rude that the driver was sarcastic and shouted to you, especially infront of your dcs. What did he hope to achieve?

reading that back, it makes it sound like he was pissed and trying to leave before the police arrived but actually, one of the cars involved in the accident belonged to a policeman (you know it's not your day when that happens!).