to actually start to hate car drivers? And yes, I mean ALL of them!

[Rhubarb0oooo]

I probably am being unreasonable as I'm sure many of you will point out but I used to think that the majority of car drivers were courteous and respectful, until I became a proper pedestrian.

I walk a mile to school with ds, then a mile back and again in the afternoon to pick him up. During this walk we have to walk down an A road, cross an entrance to a garden centre, cross a bypass and walk down a B road into the village centre.

Cars and lorries will often come speeding up the A road doing much more than the 40 mph limit and often spraying us both with water (the lorries) as they hurtle past.

Cars entering the garden centre think that it is their right of way and will often drive onto the pavement forcing ds and I to stop or back up and some have even swerved round us as we've been crossing ON OUR PAVEMENT.

Then we get to the bypass which has a pedestrian crossing. Drivers might be in a hurry to get to work but that is no excuse to run the red light whilst people are crossing. Or toot your horn (even though the light is red) or rev your engine. And the number of people on their phones, not looking at the lights, is scary.

Now for the B road into the village where the road is narrow and the pavement only allows for one single line pedestrians. It's a 30mph zone but I have been forced to throw ds onto the steep embankment as cars come flying down, clipping the kerb. I've also had cars hit his lunch bag that is over my shoulder (which gives you an idea of how close they drive to the pavement) and had horns blaring at us for daring to be on the pavement and in their way.

I'd like to think that these are isolated incidents, but this happens to us day after day. I've told the council who are not interested and the police say it is my word against the drivers (when I tried to report a van nearly ploughing into ds and I).

So what makes these reasonable people turn into arrogant bastards when they get behind a wheel and see a mother walking her child to school?

I hate all cyclists, barring none, so YANBU to hate drivers.

Even as a car driver I despair at some of the other motorists. Some people just become utter knobs with a complete lack of brain power when they get behind a wheel. I feel for you OP, it's bad enough being a driver amongst the twunts - at least I have a huge amount of metal between me, the DCs and them. Everyone is in such a rush, and the idea that they will be held up for 30 seconds is just too much for some to accept

Having said that I do also despair at the jogger I pass most mornings running towards me on a busy main road with a speed limit of 60mph. Is he trying to die??

Refreshing change from the "How I hate cyclists" theme, at least.

Idiots are idiots be they in a car, on a bike or walking. Doesn't mean you can generalise and stereotype all.

I encountered a silly cow who walked out behind my car when I was reversing today. Thankfully I am observant and saw but I don't start saying all pedestrians are that silly

I also love the fact the local council pay out cycle paths and people to clean them regularly.

And none of the selfish, wanker, bastard, twats ever use them. No, no, much better to be on the road, without insurance and a helmet holding up those of us that are capable of DOING the speed limit.

Blaaahhh....Can you pedestrians PLEASE WEAR REFLECTIVE CLOTHING IN THE WINTER/DARK...AND YOU CYCLISTS PUT A BLOODY LIGHT ON YOUR BIKE.

AND PUT ON A HELMET TOO.

Yes. If I can't drive without headlights (I live in a very rural area) then you should be forced to wear high vis vests.

I think cyclists by law are required to have a light/reflector?

Our local cop told us that it is only advised, not law to walk towards on coming traffic.

This was in response to me asking which side of the road my dd should be on when on her scooter on way to school

Agree with light reflecting top or bag cover etc

Wish cars would slow down in our village at 8.45, but think many drivers are ok

I quite like the fact our village is 60mph.

There's this horrid woman who won't even shift over a bit, so I refuse to slow down.

She's a bastard though.

I let all the kiddies take their own sweet time dwindling about in the road, it's quite sweet.

Even if it's not law surely its just common sense?

I'd like the job of a shepherd.

I'd wander the road/lane and any pedestrian or cyclist that was not in correct attire/moving fast enough would get a whipping with my staff.

And a fine. Perhaps £250 per offender. That'll teach 'em.

If I was walking on a rural road with children, I would do my damn best to make ourselves visible with reflective jackets.

I've also seen alot of arrogant pedestrians aswell, who are in good health, and when they see you're turning into a road they start walking slowly like they own the road. What's the point of doing that? Do they have a death wish?

As for lights on bikes - I was driving at about 8pm the other day in the centre of town and every single cyclist who went by had no lights on. I couldn't even see them in my mirrors until they came right up close to me. How bloody stupid is that? Then drivers get the blame for running them over.

Depends if the road has sharp bends sirzy it's not always the safest place to be.

It is a shame that this thread has attracted at least two apparently very aggressive drivers.

Always the way though.

Look guys if you want to feel better about the way you drive when around pedestrians and cyclists by saying they're all bastards with death wishes or whatever then fine, but this is not the right thread for it. This is the thread where the pedestrians get to bitch about you.

YANBU at all. We also walk a mile to school, luckily a good chunk of it is through a park. But I am constantly astounded by how impatient drivers are, seriously they will see us approaching a zebra crossing so they speed up to get there first and then 20 yds later join the back of a queue of traffic. I mean seriously, is it worth it, you really don't get anywhere faster.

We also cross a main road that has a pedestrian crossing, but I will always count at least 2 or 3, even sometimes 4 or 5 cars and cyclists going trough after they turn red.

And yes, how hard is it to indicate?

Mr.Blooms, fancy ruling the world with me?

Thing is Sardine, realistically speaking, pedestrians are arguing with 1.5 tonnes of metal. It's safer to do it online than take responsibility on the road, eh?

Our local cop told us that it is only advised, not law to walk towards on coming traffic.

there are circumstances, eg the inside of a sharp bend, where the other side can be safer. Its a matter of common sense - which of course all walkers have.

I can't say I experience too many problems with motorists when I'm walking, other than the nobbers who insist on parking on the pavement. Walking DD to her bus-stop along a busy A road, my solution to avoiding puddle splash is to carry a big umbrella and carry it so that cars have to avoid the puddles to avoid it - seems to work so far!

We have every right to defend ourselves. I'm a good driver.

We have every right to defend ourselves?
Pedestrians are arguing with 14.5 tonnes of metal?

What kind of attitude is that? You sound angry and impatient. If that is translated into your driving it is only a matter of time before some poor pedestrians/s loses an "argument" with your vehicle.

No one thinks they are a bad driver though, do they?

1.4 obv not 14.5

Why on earth does a driver in a car feel they need to defend themselves against people on foot? That is very strange thinking.

I definitely need to defend myself and my children against terrible and selfish drivers when we are out walking, all the time. I pray that we never "lose and argument".