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Original poster

To wonder why lots of car drivers shout at pedestrians?

63 replies

StripesSpot · 13/06/2025 18:37

just wondered why car drivers scream at people out of their windows? There must be some people on here that do it since it seems a common thing. I was crossing the road today and put my hand up as a thank you gesture but when I got across they screamed out the window “thank you!” I mean I thought I did thank them as putting your hand up is an acceptable thank you gesture or so I thought, are we meant to verbally shout thank you? That seems a bit odd really so anyway there must be people on here that shout out their car window at people so why do you do it? Is it to make
people silly or because you have a car so can quickly speed off?

OP posts:
Original poster
StripesSpot · 13/06/2025 19:34

Hubblebubble · 13/06/2025 19:30

Im a learner and I've yelled be careful! At one particularly annoying lemming who thought walking out into the road and into oncoming traffic (specifically a car with great big L plates) was wise.

Irreverent but please feel free to start a thread about people who just walk into busy main roads

OP posts:
Coconutter24 · 13/06/2025 19:33

StripesSpot · 13/06/2025 19:22

This was at a crossing though so not sure how this is relevant, anyway it’s clear there’s going to be no accountability here 🙄

Show quote history

Did you stop at the crossing and wait until the car stopped then use the crossing?

I don’t ever shout at anyone but it does annoy me when people just walk straight out because there’s a crossing, yes there’s a crossing but there’s also a car travelling at 30mph and needs time to stop safely

Hubblebubble · 13/06/2025 19:30

Im a learner and I've yelled be careful! At one particularly annoying lemming who thought walking out into the road and into oncoming traffic (specifically a car with great big L plates) was wise.

Findmeaplant343 · 13/06/2025 19:27

You don't even really have to say thank you. They're just following the highway code by stopping at a zebra crossing not doing you a favour.

Original poster
StripesSpot · 13/06/2025 19:22

Nannyfannybanny · 13/06/2025 19:19

I told my dgd that if I had £1 for every pedestrian that just walked off the kerb in front of me in the car, I would be a millionaire. I don't normally shout, I beep the horn, usually get a mouthful of abuse.

This was at a crossing though so not sure how this is relevant, anyway it’s clear there’s going to be no accountability here 🙄

OP posts:
Sherararara · 13/06/2025 19:21

I shout at them as they don’t get out of the way fast enough. Honestly if everyone just drove instead of walked we wouldn’t have this problem.

Nannyfannybanny · 13/06/2025 19:19

I told my dgd that if I had £1 for every pedestrian that just walked off the kerb in front of me in the car, I would be a millionaire. I don't normally shout, I beep the horn, usually get a mouthful of abuse.

Original poster
StripesSpot · 13/06/2025 19:12

This does happen there was a thread on here the other day where people had said they have had things shouted at them by car drivers (albeit as they were running/ jogging) I don’t think it’s acceptable to shout out a window at anyone unless it’s a danger I guess maybe but if that was the case they wouldnt have shouted “thank you” and like I said this was a actual crossing not me strolling into the middle of the road 🙃

OP posts:
JDM625 · 13/06/2025 19:07

I've driven for 30yrs, in 4 countries and never shouted at a pedestrian!

I too think a hand gesture is the accepted 'thank you'. Possibly the mouthed 'thank you' also, but certainly not as common IMO.

As I driver, I then usually smile and give the hand gesture back. Yes, I get annoyed if someone just strides out with no eye contact/nod/hand gesture, but it would never occur to me to lean out my window and yell something at them! 😕

user1471453601 · 13/06/2025 18:57

I don't think I've ever been shouted at by a driver.

Though I did have one interaction that was lovely. I was waiting for the lights to change and I had my iPod on. A favourite song came on and I was doing a (I thought) discreet little bop. I was in my 70s at the time. Lights changed and as I passed the car, the driver gave me a thumbs up sign, I have him a bit of a bow, and we both smiled. Nice

Original poster
StripesSpot · 13/06/2025 18:47

This was at a zebra crossing no I didn’t just step out in the middle of the road 🤣

OP posts:
dynamiccactus · 13/06/2025 18:41

I don't think "lots" of drivers shout at pedestrians, but occasionally they do. They probably shout at other drivers from the safety of their cars a lot more often, though.

If you were on a crossing, t's fine to wave a hand to say thank you. The only thing I can think is that they didn't notice the wave? But if you were on a zebra crossing it's a courtesy to say thank you but not a requirement in any event.

Springadorable · 13/06/2025 18:38

Were you on a crossing? Or just stride out and use a thank you to disguise the fact you stepped out in front of them?

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