to expect cars to stop for zebra crossings?

[K8Middleton]

Every time I cross at one of these I take my life in my hands. Either you know the road so well that you should be prepared for the crossing and slow down/look or if you don't know the road so well you should be paying attention and spot the crossing in enough time to be able to stop. They are even helpfully marked with flashing lights.

Yesterday I hit a record. Four cars carried on whizzing over the crossing while I, ds (on scooter) and dd (in sling) were half way across the crossing.

I hate them! Cars seem to speed up when they see you stood there. I wait til cars have stopped either side and know they aren't going to go before I even think about crossing. Been hit once and don't fancy it happening again

Is this the same crossing every time or lots of different ones?

If the same one then could it be badly designed or positioned or something which makes it more likely for people not to notice in time.

It isn't something I have had any problem with. Maybe you live somewherer there are lots of inconsiderate drivers!

YANBU.

I hate it when someone stops for you but waves hurries you across with their hand as if they're doing you a favour .

It's why I will be teaching my DC to always check despite the zebra crossing/green man. There are too many idiots about.

I totally agree OP! And I think it's getting worse. Some drivers seem to think they're doing you a massive favour when they deign to stop for you.

I always step straight out (but am still preparing to stop in case the cars don't). Car drivers should easily be able to spot the Belisha beacons. I have no problem and do stop to allow people to cross.

YANBU at all, I find the same here, the school run is the worst. According to the highway code driviers should be anticipating pedestrians crossing and be ready to stop

Oh yes - the other thing I meant to say was make eye contact. I ususally find if I want to cross the road, even if it is not at a zebra but, say a junction where lots of people are slowing down anyway, once you make eye contact with someone they will always stop for you to cross.

Oh it happens all the time at various different crossings. I walk a lot and use the bus mostly because I'm in London suburbs. I have noticed this is getting worse, possibly because I have to do the school run now so cross more often.

I also get the rage when someone waves you across but they have no idea if cars coming the other way are stopping

I mean when they wave you in a pissed off "get a bloody move on" way. Not a friendly way although it's my right of way

YANBU. But I always wait to make sure the cars are going to stop before stepping out, shouldn't have to but its safer than risking getting hit

I wait til cars have stopped either side and know they aren't going to go before I even think about crossing

Yes me too usually SP but I can't always see the other side if there is traffic backed up or a bus in the way. How awful to be hit :( Hope you made a full recovery.

I spend half my time in London and half my time up North and think it's far, far worse in London. I think it's a combination of people being all rush, rush, rush and also a lot of drivers who learned to drive abroad so aren't aware that you MUST stop. I know in a lot of Europe that a crossing is a guide for where to cross rather than somewhere cars have to stop to let people across.

If you can't see the other side to see if traffic is coming how are they supposed to see that you are crossing though? Not defending the drivers that don't stop but it does make it harder if they can't see you!

YANBU! I also hate it when cars (and buses) stop in the middle of zebra crossings!

I cross over 3 different crossings six times a day on the school/ nursery runs, generally they're pretty good but you get the odd wanker who can't be arsed to stop. You also get the apologetic people who aren't paying attention and then apologise half way over the crossing. The oddest was some guy last week who stared at me while driving over the crossing but did nothing. Usually starers apologise and those who can't be arsed to stop keep a fixed stare ahead.

As I always have a buggy and two walking kids I make sure the car stops before stepping out, if I'm alone I'm a bit more forthright but you can't take the risk if your bug is the first onto the road.

I'm a zebra crossing thanker too but sometimes I think I shouldn't bother.

I would expect them to also be able to see the bus/cars/obstruction and the massive flashing beacons Sirzy and travel at an appropriate speed so they can stop if necessary. I don't expect them to see through cars.

I make allowances for people who can't see what they can't see but idiots who don't slow down when there is an obstructed crossing are dangerous. The worst crossings I know for this join the queue for the traffic lights about 200 yards down the road so there isn't any where to get to very fast.

If they hit people crossing that would have to be a bigger inconvenience than anticipating a hazard?

The is a zebra crossing outside my sons school, they also have a school crossing patrol attendant (lollipop lady )in a fluorescent yellow jacket with giant lollipop and yet cars STILL manage to whizz through!

YANBU

I think it's a genetic throwback: see a zebra - act like a lion.

Utter, utter bastards. Every one of them

This is something that has been annoying me a lot lately - as a car driver too rather than actually one of the poor sods trying to cross. I think there needs to be an education piece across the country in what zebra crossings are there for and how to use them - for pedestrians as well, as I don't think a good percentage of the population actually know.

I the nature of my daily journey, I have several zebra crossings to pass through. One of which is near a school. I see cars speeding through when people are trying to cross, I see people standing by them but cars are slowing down trying to determine if anyone is actually trying to use them or just stopping for a chat, I've seen people dodging through the traffic a few feet from a zebra crossing and cars waiting for the pedestrian to cross their side and then carrying on through when I believe you should wait until the person has completed their crossing to the other side, unless there is a traffic island.

It is starting to drive me mental.

Come the revolution people who dither by crossings to chat will be up against the wall with the bastards who speed up.

I've had one van brake suddenly when I was just starting to cross, despite the other car stopping and me standing with another adult and 2 prams (and bright orange hair!)

And another car speed past me when me and baby DD are nearly half way across the road. It's the same zebra crossing where cars just pretend they don't see you and carry on driving, it makes me so mad that I'm pushing my child in front of me and these idiots do not stop!

They were talking about this on 8 out of 10 cats the other night. One of the panellists was saying he gets annoyed when pedestrians don't wave to say thanks when the driver has let them cross. Another panellist flew into a rage saying 'Oh Yes....thank you for not running me over when I have right of fucking way'!

I'd like to see Public service ads on TV again, like the Green Cross Code man or those ones with Charlie the Cat :o or that one which taught everyone what the yellow hatched box on the road was for.

The one that I see the most issues on is between a Supermarket/Train Station/Bus stop on one side and on the other side is the route to a retirement home (with sign advising beware of the elderly) a primary and high school. Most of the driving offenders are people like me who are on the school run. Surely they should be more aware of young children and teens crossing on their way to school as well as taking note of the extra signage re the elderly??