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.

yanbu.
I hate having to use crossings for this reason. Where I am you even get cars failing to stop at pelican crossings and the puffin ones. Twice when I've been pushing my sons buggy too. Would rather use a subway than risk being run down.

Drivers seem to be unaware that pedestrians have the right of way these days.

I can remember when learning to drive being told that pedestrians always have right of way, even when not on a crossing. But I agree with you OP, lots do seem to have forgotten that.

It's not just pedestrians who are in danger from idiots though (although certainly they are very vulnerable). Maybe as well as a driving test there should also be an assessment of arsehole tendencies?

YABU. But I think it's partly the Council's fault when they allow placement of crossings so close to roundabouts. I'm campaigning to get several moved in my area as crossings are placed practically on top of roundabouts which means cars, looking the opposite way, are forced to brake violently or can't stop at all in time when taking their exit.

Crossings should be at least 3 car lengths from the exit lane of a roundabout, IMO.

I do the waving thing. I do it thinking I am showing them that I am not a twat who is going to try to bully them across the road, that they're there and I acknowledge their right of way and I'm not going to whizz by, skimming their ankle or something.

whoops.

I always give pedestrians right of way because they're well... squishier.

Not liking some of the arsey posts though about drivers thinking they're doing you a favour, I don't think they think that at all. I see adults walking across on their phones with young children in their wake, chatting (as previously mentioned) so that the driver has no idea if you're going to cross or just stopped for some inexplicable reason.

If a driver waves you across, take it that they've seen you, acknowledged you, and aren't going to suddenly knock you over.

If car drivers aren't what they used to be, neither are some pedestrians. Selfish entitled people are just that - on foot or on wheels or on horseback.

x-posted with ISeeYou and yy.

There are no roundabouts at the crossings I am thinking of. There are some others that are ridiculously close to roundabouts nearby and I've seen a man knocked off his motorbike by a car that ignored the crossing. The motorbike rider stopped.

I think some people need their eyes testing.

squishier

yy!

Oh God, I meant to say YANBU! Sorry OP!

Yes, and cars should automatically slow down at zebra/pedestrian crossings anyway in case someone steps out unexpectedly, or if there is an obstruction blocking the view of the crossing. That way, crashes are reduced.

After being bumped into the back of twice at a particular mini-roundabout after I stopped at the zebra crossing, as some cars think they can just blithely sail into their exit without checking if the exit is clear, then this really needs addressing.

Generally I find most drivers respect the zebra crossing and I always give them a wave in thanks. Recently though in a supermarket car park a car zoomed through as I was about to cross. I was so cross I went after her and knocked on her window as she was in the queue to leave the carpark. She was mortified!

But, I've also been caught out by pedestrians apparently walking along the pavement and then suddenly veering onto the crossing! pedestrians should stop at the kerb and not just walk out onto the road.

Looking for a like button squoosh

I crossed one behind a bus once, came to the second half of the crossing and had to yank my DD's pram back before we got run over by the van that came flying down the road. Yeah we were behind a bus, but the crossing could still clearly be seen, if you are paying attention of course, which I don't think he was.

I got hit on a zebra crossing recently. The car coming up to the crossing stopped but the car behind him didn't, smacked Into the back of him and shunted him forwards into me.

YANBU.

I don't cross until both cars have stopped. DH has almost been knocked over twice recently when half way across by cars just whizzing straight over. Living in London people drive very aggressively and selfishly.

I am either ignored (latest was two women in a car, I glared at them as they went past - driver staring ahead and passenger looking at me) or the driver who shoots off when I'm barely half way.

I've had quite a few irate drivers, frantically waving me across whilst looking really pissed off. And a special mention for the drivers who slow down but don't stop and expect you to trot across the crossing so they don't have to stop.

Agree entirely but also get annoyed by some pedestrians who don't bother with a friendly nod or smile to acknowledge you've stopped. Or even worse, those (especially teenage girls outside a local school) who saunter across really slowly.

But I don't hate that as much as I hate people who turn right at mini roundabouts by ...... turning right. ie they turn sharp right instead of going round the roundabout. Happens a lot where I live and the offenders always seem to think it's my fault if I nearly run into them whereas if they'd gone the proper way round I would not have been in their way!

Good for you! That's brilliant! I just stand with my arms out in a "WTF??!!" way that helps no-one.

I know there's a site called something like "You park like a cunt", but maybe we need one called "You drive like a twat"? Although I'll probably be mown down, phone in hand and my demise will just end up on YouTube.

I think the problem is that there are an awful lot of drivers on our roads who didn't pass their test in the Uk and don't know what they're meant to do. I'd say that about 25 per cent of motorists in London don't have a clue what to do at a roundabout these days.

Roundabouts aren't widely found in other countries, I expect it's same story for Zebra style crossings.

They are very dangerous. When I moved from Scotland to London I had no experience of them at all - at that point we really had no zebra crossings here. I used to sail right through them.

Where's this fella when we need him?

London is a whole different world of driving, I hate it. Anyone who drives round the north circular for example knows its like a bloody race track!