To be very wary at zebra crossings because of very bad drivers

[lazyglazy]

I really am sick and tired of drivers (sorry to say but nearly always women) who refuse to stop at zebra crossings. It's like I'm invisible. So bloody ignorant, not to mention dangerous. Has anyone else come across this?

Also pelican crossings, when I've been pushing my buggy. One woman driver gave me such a dirty look as she drove through a red light when we were trying to cross. I couldn't stop myself, I shouted "it's red, you pillock!"

According to the Highway Code, drivers only have to stop if the pedestrian has actually started to cross.

This does to get missed.

I have nearly been knocked over on one and only the flip side I have seen people just walk out onto the road without checking whilst usually texting or on their phone

I am always cautious and encourage my DCs to be cautious crossing on zebras and pelican crossings. I tell DD2 not to cross at the pelican crossing on the way to school until she is sure any cars are going to stop. (When I used to spy on her going on her own I have seen her see a car coming from quite a way away (long straight stretch), slowing down but not stopping and she has let the lights change without crossing.... and confused drivers but at least she wouldn't get knocked over doing that.
The reason I am so cautious is that after being a driver for almost 30 yrs I know you make mistakes sometimes - no matter how careful you are.
I have been through a red light twice to my knowledge.
Once after driving on country roads for a couple of weeks back home I stopped at a junction, very carefully gave way and drove through a red light - I'd just 'forgotten' it had traffic lights. Another time a pedestrian crossing - luckily no-one was crossing (or actually I would probably have stopped if they had been) but I saw the red light and my brain went wonky and I thought that meant go (actually my dad had something similar happen to him once).
I also nearly had a crash on a zebra crossing as I just didn't see someone crossing on the opposite side until they were on the island - I thought they were going to carry on crossing and emergency stopped on a wet road and skidded stopped 5 cm from the flashing beacon post (and I was doing 30mph if that).

I hate the recent trend of sticking zebras next to mini roundabouts - there are two places I can think about where they have done that - one near where I live I have told the DCs I would rather they crossed slightly further down -not at the crossing - as I don't think they are safe. It is more or less a T junction ....so one crossing, then a mini roundabout, sharp corner you can't see round with another zebra crossing literally a car width from the roundabout ... near shops there are usually people and cars milling about...lots of movement/distractions. I have missed seeing people wanting to cross there - and if you do have to stop there is the risk of someone coming round the corner and tail ending you...I think it is madness.

Lweji the only time I've told people to go through is when I'm waiting for one of the DC to hold my hand. I've also had people stop for DS 4 before I've got to the crossing, do they expect a 4 year old to cross by himself?

I've also had people stop for DS 4 before I've got to the crossing, do they expect a 4 year old to cross by himself?

From the point of view of the driver they do stop in case the child suddenly crosses the road, regardless of the parent. Better than risk running over a child.

Have I mentioned the time, recently, when I stopped so not to run over a pigeon and it crossed the road at the zebra crossing? I'm stopping for anything these days. particularly after being traumatised by a pigeon that didn't fly away as I expected and I saw the cloud of feathers at the back of the car

Yes I see your point Lweji. I suppose I forget that because my DC got it into their heads really young that they stop at the kerb.

The highway code is a funny thing in some ways. So for rules on pedestrians it says that cars don't have to stop unless the pedestrian is on the crossing, and to wait until traffic has stopped before going on. But that means that the cars can just ignore the crossing .

When you look at the rules for drivers though it states "you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing". The 'MUST' is crucial as this is the point of law. There is nothing about only giving way if you are going slow enough etc. Basically, if you hit someone on the crossing it's the drivers fault. There is no 'MUST' in the rules for pedestrians, so is guidance or good practice only.

What is worse than zebra crossings though, is at junctions. Cars have to give way if they are turning into a road where a pedestrian has already started crossing. In my experience I reckon cars give way about 5% of the time. I have had cars beeping me to get out of the way before.

It goes both ways though.

I can't count the amount of times I've had to do an emergency stop because a pedestrian who was walking down the road suddenly changes direction and walks straight out without looking.

I have found my people! DP laughs at me because I am terrified of zebra crossings. It's like a playing a potentially fatal game of chicken. I avoid them like the plague and try to move further down and wait for a break in the traffic, or wait for someone else to cross first and dash across behind them. I loathe them.

And yes, the rule may be that the pedestrian is supposed to start crossing, and then the cars stop, but seeing the way some people drive (and ride bikes), I don't think I'll be taking my chances with that any time soon.

I also fully acknowledge that some pedestrians' behaviour is highly irresponsible - marching out in road in front of moving traffic like they own the place, head stuck in phone etc.

I like zebra crossings. They're just so practical. I Fucking HATE waiting for no reason and these stop you having to do so whether you're walking or driving

From a walkers perspective, you don't have to press a button and for your hair to go grey before some little green man and a sodding beeping noise to tell you to cross

From the drivers perspective you don't have to wait at a red because one of the neighbourhood kids pressed the button and ran away because I'd get out and lamp the little bastard or wait for the next Chinese new year to come around before the light finally returns to green despite the person who crossed now having enough time to be ten miles away on foot with the amount of time it's taken on red

When drivers stop for me I always put my hand up in acknowledgement and mouth "thank you". I know you don't have to and the driver has to stop in law, but I am surprised how few people acknowledge courtesy. I also walk as briskly as I am able to minimise hold ups.

Why? Because, as a driver, I notice how often at busy times people just step out without looking, meander across at a snail's pace as if everyone has all the time in the world and when they have finally strolled slowly to the other side, another meanderer oblivious to the world around them steps on to the crossing to be followed by another all carefully leaving half a road's width of gaps between them……..and so on while traffic queues up.

A little courtesy and thoughtfulness by drivers and pedestrians alike makes life go so much more smoothly

Pedestrians should wait until the cars stop before crossing.

Unless the road is completely clear and then they can start crossing and if a car appears the car should give way (as they should for any pedestrian on the road or at crossing!)

I guess if the pedestrian doesn't starting crossing then some cars could ignore them and keep going (you don't want to walk in front of them anyway!), but some one will stop then it will be safe to cross.

Don't understand why anyone would take the risk to start crossing on a road with moving cars before they have stopped at the crossing.

I do thank people for stopping (unless they have to screech to a stop) just because I always have, even though it's my right of way.

However, I never notice a driver thanking me for NOT crossing the road when it's their right of way!

"Pedestrians should wait until the cars stop before crossing."

Well, yes. You generally want to avoid getting run over. But saying it like that makes it sound like the cars have priority. They don't.

I'd rather there was much more guidance given to drivers, such as "Remember that you MUST give way to pedestrians. Always drive with caution around crossings, and be aware that a pedestrian at a zebra crossing may step out without warning."

This doesn't mean pedestrians shouldn't be cautious, of course there are idiots on the road, but the emphasis should be on drivers being in control of their vehicle and not injuring people.

"I do thank people for stopping (unless they have to screech to a stop) just because I always have, even though it's my right of way.

However, I never notice a driver thanking me for NOT crossing the road when it's their right of way!"

I once had a driver hurl abuse at me for not thanking them for stopping at a crossing in a supermarket. When I've got a trolley full of shopping and a toddler in tow funnily enough my priority isn't making sure I'm thanking someone for what they should be doing anyway.

I see it all the time and I'm a driver - some people just shouldn't have a licence. My daily journey takes me through a fair few and I see someone drive straight through one most days - it's not exactly hard to look and see if there is someone there needing to cross.

I do see sometimes, but not as often, pedestrians who don't know how to use them or decide to stop and have a chat at the edge of the road at the crossing and you can't tell if they are wanting to cross or not.

So, serious question, when did they stop teaching kids how to use them?

It is so obvious to me, you look to your right, move your bodyweight forward, put one foot on the crossing, make eye contact, smile, look left, check for idiots, walk across the road.

I have been doing it since I was 5, walking to school alone, crossing the road before the one with a lollipop lady... stop, step, stare, smile, stare again and step lively

I don't expect an acknowledgement for stopping but I do get quite a few and I just wave back - that's not hard either - quite often drivers give a wave when you've waited a line at traffic calming when they have right of way, they are just being polite - i'd rather that than the ones who don't wave when you've way when neither of you have priority. I like an acknowledgement then.