Nearly hit a child, WIBU to tell her off?

[mileend2bermondsey]

So I was travelling on a busy 30mph road crossing a T junction on a slight bend. There was a big gap between me and any cars infront so presumably the girl thought there was no cars coming so safe to cross. As I rounded the bend I see the girl on a scooter dart out across the road. I slammed my brakes on and stopped approx 10ft in front of her. Very scary for both parties. She moved to the middle of the road where there is a pedestrian island kind of thing and my window was already rolled down so I pulled closer to her and said in what I think was a sympathetic tone. 'Darling, you shouldn't cross the road untill the green light comes on (she was at a pedestrian crossing). Its very dangerous, you could have been hit by a car just then. You need to be more careful.' She just stared at me wide eyed I tink she was in a bit of shock and I carried on along the road.

This girl looked about 8 and there was no adults around, tbh I was shocked anyone would allow her to cross such a busy road alone.

I told my mum about it and she said I should have just driven away, that the poor girl was probably terrified about nearly being knocked over and I shouldn't have said anything to her. WIBU to say something to her?

I was run over by a car when I was about 15. I got off the bus and crossed the road behind it in the dark. Luckily I escaped with some bad cuts and bruises. But the next day the police came round to tell me off and to say how shaken up the driver had been. I often think of how scary it must have been for them to hit a pedestrian. I am a lot more careful now!

I think it was good to tell her off as it reinforces that she should wait for the light. She may have forgotten all about it if you hadn't.

YWDNBU, OP.

On a related note, I often see parents crossing very busy roads with children without going to the traffic lights/pelican crossing/zebra crossing. They just walk out into the traffic and hope for the best, even if it would only be a few yards to the nearest safe crossing. Dreadful example to set.

Worst ever example was a man who missed his stop and had to stay on to the next one. The bus got stuck halfway in very heavy traffic at a busy junction on the A2 (just beyond New Cross bus garage, for anybody who knows it - the bus was waiting to turn right onto the Old Kent Road). He reached up for the catch that opens the door in an emergency, opened the door and took his young son out into the middle of the road and they then weaved their way through four lanes of moving traffic. Unbelievably stupid. There was a huge outbreak of tutting all over the bus as the rest of us realised what he was doing.

I think it's time to bring back the Green Cross Code man. Some of these posts have really me.

I'm really not sure what the point of this thread is. Any sensible adult (so let's imagine 90% plus) would have spoken to the girl in the same way you did op.

You did the right thing. I thought you were going to say you'd screamed at her.