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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that adults don't need 'to wait for the green man'?

101 replies

MrsWooster · 22/03/2015 09:48

why, on a reasonably quiet road, would a grown person press the button on a pelican crossing and wait while NO TRAFFIC GOES BY until the green man flashes? what happeed to common sense, judging the traffic and being a fucking adult?!
usual caveats apply of SN or if you've got kids and are trying to train them not to spring into the road like gazelles.

OP posts:
N0RMABATES · 22/03/2015 11:10

The crossing is there for a reason, it's not just for children to use. I wait, my dh waits and so do my dc. Sod you if you think we are risking our lives so you aren't inconvenienced by stopping at a red light.

southeastastra · 22/03/2015 11:16

people can't cross the road these days without a say so from the state. it's a bit barmy, especially when they do it on an empty road or press cross then walk across leaving traffic waiting for no-one to cross.

southeastastra · 22/03/2015 11:16

saything that though i do think there should be more zebra crossings

AGirlCalledBoB · 22/03/2015 11:19

Habit. I was brought up to never cross unless there was a green man and now I have a toddler it carries on.

And I guess you never know if a car is going to come round the corner.

2rebecca · 22/03/2015 11:19

The reason people so often press then walk is that there is often a huge delay between pressing and green man and on a busy road you can't guess whether or not there will be a gap before the green man comes. If road quiet just cross, if road very busy press and wait, it's the intermediate roads with long green man delays that are the problem.

CharmingNotSincere · 22/03/2015 11:28

Because while I look healthy, if I have to suddenly sprint because a car comes, I'll be in increased pain the rest of the day.

Also, if that's you at my local crossing, can you stop coming across while lights are red, then sprinting when the cars come around the bend and shoving me out of the way when I'm waiting patiently on the other side for the green man!

SusanIvanova · 22/03/2015 11:39

Because I am terrified of dying. Angry

spoonjarjarspoonjar · 22/03/2015 12:23

SusanIvanova, I'm not surprised tbh, you don't want to go through that whole Marcus turning up with a live saving machine and sacrificing himself thing again.

Username based lols, please ignore and resume thread as normal.

TwoOddSocks · 22/03/2015 13:10

Maybe they're Germans or have spent time in Germany. There you can get a fine (and I've seen police stopping people). My German friends ALL waited for a green man, even on an empty road, they were shocked when they visited London and couldn't bring themselves to cross on a red. After living there for two years I now feel guilty crossing on a red man even on a deserted road.

FuckItBucket · 22/03/2015 13:16

i will wait for the green man always even when pissed.

After getting run over once, nearly losing my leg and having to learn to walk again, roads scare me a bit

TheRealAmandaClarke · 22/03/2015 13:17

Why wouldnt you?
What's the problem with doing this?

irretating · 22/03/2015 13:23

I make such a big song and dance to my kids about waiting for the green man and crossing safely, it would be quite hypocritical for me not to even when they're not there.

Suzannewithaplan · 22/03/2015 13:37

I always err on the side of caution, it's a key strategy in my 'stay alive for as long as possible' plan

Shodan · 22/03/2015 13:39

At a busy four way junction, I'll always wait for the green man.

If not, I might-might- cross just before, so long as there are no children around (mine or other peoples).

DH tries to make me cross at a zebra crossing before the cars have come to a complete halt. We have had rows about this in the past- mainly because he was nearly killed, many years ago, by being knocked over by a car and landing on his head. Many weeks spent in hospital, months of rehabilitation, physiotherapy and even now he has a few physical reminders of that time (scars, tics etc).

So you weigh it up, don't you? One minute extra of your life now versus a possible many many months and years of trouble. Bit of a no-brainer, tbh.

Indantherene · 22/03/2015 14:56

I saw a family yesterday 2 adults, 2 children, run across the road as the lights changed, in front of a bus. What a stupid example to set your kids. I wanted to say something to them but they went off a different way. They'd pressed the button so as I got to the crossing the lights changed and I was able to walk across without having to wait. 60 seconds for them to wait.

My absolute pet hate is people who decide to trot across the road the second the lights change. We have an abundance of traffic lights here and they all go red as you approach them. Having been sat at the 3rd red light for ages it is so frustrating when you see somebody approaching the road and you just know they are going to step out. Every time. Angry

maninawomansworld · 22/03/2015 18:33

YANBU.

Use your common sense and cross as soon as it is safe to do so.
If the traffic is heavy then it may be that you need to wait for the green man to get across but otherwise just bloomin well cross.

Most of the time I don't even bother going over a crossing if it will take me out of my way - I am a big boy and am perfectly capable of crossing a road unassisted.

dearth · 22/03/2015 18:58

It's not a man. It's a green person.

I almost always wait for it because I don't want to be an asshole who endangers drivers.

Original poster
MrsWooster · 22/03/2015 22:09

sorry EVE, meant people who press the button at all, thereby holding up me traffic when they could wait for a clear road if they use their common sense. grown ups don't need help to cross the road safely, was my point. I see that opinions differ but i'm right!

OP posts:
Jewels234 · 22/03/2015 22:13

YANBU. My MIL makes me wait for the green man and treats me like I'm a child she is supervising. I am 30. Actually ridic.

2rebecca · 22/03/2015 22:16

Turn the tables, treat her like the one wanting supervising and anxious about crossing the road, she's a granny she can be a bit cautious.
I rarely cross the road with my MIL.

Writerwannabe83 · 22/03/2015 22:39

YANBU.

If I want to cross a road where there is clearly no traffic then I don't need to wait for the green man to tell me it's safe when I can work that out for myself.

Another thing I hate is when I'm crossing a zebra crossing (just me on my own, an adult with no children of mine or anyone else's anywhere near the crossing) and the bloody lollipop man feels the need to escort me across the crossing and stand in the middle of the road with his sign. It's so completely embarrassing and totally unnecessary.

2rebecca · 22/03/2015 22:45

I thought lollipop men weren't allowed to stop the traffic for adults as someone had complained about that in the news a few years ago. I thought they were only authorised to stop traffic for children.
Sounds as though he likes displaying his big stick!

jauntynomates · 22/03/2015 22:48

I do it because it's safe and stuff. Charlie says! Green cross code! It's hard to unlearn that, especially now that I have DCs.

GunShotResidue · 22/03/2015 22:59

We nearly got fined for crossing on a red man in Germany. Saw the policeman at the last minute and stepped back onto the curb, he was opposite shaking his head at us.

ManOfSpiel · 22/03/2015 23:02

If it was that quiet and there were periods of no traffic then why press the button at all?

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