To think I can't trust a all drivers to stop at zebra crossings?

I’m in outer London where I’ve lived for many years and would say it’s becoming less common to stop. Drivers are definitely more inpatient in many circumstances. Pedestrians can be arseholes too running across as the traffic light is turning green and running across from behind at an angle to not miss the crossing window as lights are changing.

I’ve seen many a driver honking at other drivers for not carrying on through a crossing that has kids walking on it and not just about to leave it. Yesterday a van was honking at the kids crossing as with very bad planning the school near me now has one exit for students to the street so in chess of 1k kids start pouring out so you could be sat at the crossing for several minutes. Cars don’t want to wait so start rolling through trying to make the kids stop.

Would agree with recommending to our kids to get them to have eye contact with drivers, it’s a very good idea. With visibility for me some of the lights at these new crossings act as beacons to the crossing but it is actually at night very hard to see from any distance that someone is stood there all dressed in black but I’m looking for someone because of that.

Pedestrians should never cross the road within the zig-zag area. Drivers should stop at the broken ‘give way’ line (about 1 metre before the crossing) when pedestrians are using the crossing. You should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross and must give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/know-your-traffic-signs/pedestrian-cycle-and-equestrian-crossings

The Highway Code is quite specific that drivers must stop if you are on the crossing and should stop if you are waiting to cross. Unfortunately as with much of-the code, far too many drivers have either never read it other than to pass there tests, don’t keep up to date with changes or more often , just ignore it. Personally never put afoot out until they’ve actually stopped, but even then there are idiots who will fly across when our in the middle of the crossing

You do realise that as a driver you're supposed to be able to read the road and anticipate hazards? A pedestrian crossing should make you think 'I may need to break as I approach if there are pedestrians'.

The fact that you are inattentive and bad at driving is a you problem.

Where I live you have to be a bit reckless or the drivers would never stop. I give them a hard stare and step out a little bit, meaning I could jump back if necessary.

A lot of drivers don't seem to know how to drive any more.

In an increasingly selfish society where people seem to think about others less and less, the problems with zebra crossings is most likely another reflection of that. What I mean by that is that for crossings to work well (safely!) both pedestrians and drivers need to show intent. Showing intent is signalling to those around you what you intend to do next so those around you are aware (and if necessary can adjust their own actions). Unfortunately a significant proportion of people these days not only just can’t be bothered but I don’t think it even occurs to them that they’re not actually the centre of the universe and there are other people that might be impacted by their actions. Sad but true.

A very balanced view. My issue as a sometimes driver, is people that just dart out with no warning at all on crossings. Hence my reference to schoolkids amongst others.

as a pedestrian I try to take the onus because I’m the one who will be injured if I get hit. However at crossings it really should be onus on the driver of a vehicle that can seriously injure or kill. I don’t drive, but when a pedestrian is steps onto a zebra crossing. I wait till the card or I think they have, but my sight isn’t very good and I might misjudge.

The onus should be on the pedestrian crossing the road........Obviously, especially when the school zoos empty.

I think hi via needs to be a more frequent part of our wardrobes. If I ever started cycling on roads again, I’d be wearing a full illuminated coat and bike lit up like a Christmas tree.

Had this too, one as a pedestrian with pram and one in the car with husband when there is a clear sign that says not to beforehand, both times some wanker in a white van.

I’d happily pay for cameras and push for stronger laws against such nonsense.

They don’t even stop when lollipop lady is in the road, every week she has a near miss normally from people who can’t be bothered to walk the 5 minutes to pick their kids up from school.

You can't even trust people to stop at red lights these days let alone zebra crossings, feel like I take my life in my hands daily getting home from work as a pedestrian tbh. Nearly been hit multiple times by drivers doing illegal U-turns at one particular set of lights or just coming through after it's changed to red, it's terrifying frankly!

I always plan my walking route around pelican crossings rather than zebra crossings. Drivers are more likely to stop at a red light whereas they often feel no need to at a zebra crossing, there are no consequences for them if they don't stop. They get fined for not stopping at lights. It doesn't help if you only have zebra crossings on your route though (luckily I live in a city centre with lots of proper pedestrian crossings).

Our school is on a school street so is much safer now although they are still vulnerable on the adjacent streets which have no formal crossing points. Our council is gradually turning every street that a school is on into a school street which is great for safety and pollution.

Although there are all sorts of rules and regulations that cover all sorts of aspects of our life to keep us safe - I don’t think trusting them and trusting others 100% of the time is wise.

Other people may do the wrong thing for all sorts of reasons - because they are ignorant, because they don’t care, maybe a medical emergency, mechanical emergency, something they can control or something they can’t control.

Whatever it is- it’s something YOU can’t control. The only thing you can control is yourself and your own behaviour. So whether it feels right or wrong, you have to assume no one is looking or paying attention if you want to keep yourself and your children safe - if you want to be safe 100% safe all the time.

A classmate of my dc was hit by a van outside the school gates. Just drove up on the pavement as the kids were coming out.
It doesn't help that schools insist on plain dark coloured uniforms/ blazers/coats rendering the kids practically invisible on winter mornings and evenings.

I used to live on a ‘one way’ road. I always look both ways when crossing a one way road now.

I don't step out until I'm certain the driver has seen me, ideally with eye contact. I do make it clear I'm waiting to cross though, I'm not just milling about.

Yes, this.

I think too many drivers are looking more at and for other cars than they are for pedestrians. They’re tunnel visioning instead of taking in their full surroundings.

You should make sure they stop properly before you cross the the road, stop look and listen, more people need to learn how to cross the road, a crossing is not a magic carpet and it won’t fly up in the air and the driver hasn’t seen you in its blind spot, always wait until the cars have stopped.

look at the vehicle's movement and where the front wheels are pointing.

That's what my late Dad used to say. Don't watch to see if a driver is indicating, watch the front wheels. (Another peeve of mine is the number of drivers who don't indicate at a junction if there's no other traffic around. I'm here. I may not be a motorist, but I still want to know which way you're going so that I know whether I can safely cross.)

Yes… I think they must mean you should put a foot on so the drivers can’t pretend they didn’t realise you actually want to cross.

I had that on Christmas Eve when on a roundabout about to join the M25 clockwise. Some prat pulled out from my left in front of me forcing me to brake sharply, then drove down the slip road in front of me to join a free flowing motorway at 30 mph. There are too many people in this country who really REALLY do not have the mental capacity or spatial awareness to drive safely and should have their license removed, but sadly they never get caught so carry on regardless without comeback unless they are involved in an incident. Maybe AI will eventually advance to a point where careless/dangerous driving can be widely detected, such that the chance of getting caught and punished is high enough to incite people to PAY ATTENTION.

Avoid assuming anything you don't have to, look at the vehicle's movement and where the front wheels are pointing.

A few years back there was a horrendous incident in the news - a mother and her 5 year old daughter crossed at a pedestrian crossing and were hit by a driver who was elderly and later said he did not see that the light was on red. The poor little girl passed away and her mother was in a coma for a very long time . She woke up to find out her daughter had passed away and the funeral had already taken place. The most horrendous thing I have ever heard.

Horrific story 😣 this woman’s life will never be the same. I mean nor will the drivers but he caused the incident and he had lived his life unlike the 5 year old girl. So I’ll reserve my sympathies for them.

Reading all these horror stories will make me more careful now at any kind of pedestrian crossing.

It’s also reminded me that my former teacher was walking out of school and a car mowed her down on a green man.

Hit and run, they were never found. I was gutted, she was one of my favourite teachers. I think she was very near retirement as well.

Exactly, and maybe it’ll wake him up to the fact his driving needs to be improved. 😆

He looked like he was in his 60s or so I don’t know if he’s always driven like that, but I’m a not particularly good learner driver and I drive better than that.