How would you respond to a driver honking at you and your toddler for not crossing fast enough?

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

I am fairly sure I am not BU but I am also not sure how to handle this.

On the way to/from DD nursery, there is a junction where the green man takes a little while to come on. It is just a random quirk. So you push the button, the light goes red for cars, and then there is a gap of maybe four or five seconds before the green man comes. It is just a bit longer than the averahe time lag between red light for cars/ green man on.

Obviously, as I am with DD who is 2, I wait for the green man.

Twice in the last week, drivers have started blaring their horns at us, gesturing impatiently. I don't get it, as the light has only just turned red for them, so it is not like if we sprinted across they could get going again any faster.

But more importantly I don't know if I should react. DD jumped out of her skin yesterday evening when it happened - as well she might, with a car blaring its horn not ten feet from her! I just frowned at the driver and gestured to the red man which was still showing, but I really wanted to shout something unprintable at her.

Wwyd if a driver behaved like this?

[Spangles1963]

A one finger salute.

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

BeepBeep apposite name there because I am with DD who is 2 and I am trying to drill in that we only cross when the green man is on.

Cakedup yes totally sure. The sequence of events is, push button, red light comes on for cars but red man staya on for us for maybe 4 seconds, wanker driver beeps horn in a "what are you waiting for" manner, green man comes on and we cross before he goes off again, green man goes off and lights change for cars.

The two big things I am teaching DD are, never cross when the red man is on, and when the green man is on we walk nice and fast and don't mess around.

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

Id hiss at them.
Joking aside for a minute, though.
Theyre okay beeping their horn at a women on her own with a toddler.
Would they be as brave as to honk their horn at a 6ft tall 4ft wide body builder.
I do not think so.

[CauliflowerSqueeze]

Maybe she's trying to teach her child to wait for the green man.

[BeepBeepMOVE]

But if you can see the traffic light turn red why don't you start crossing?
If they are all local then they obviously know the light is slow and might just be beeping to let you know.

[CauliflowerSqueeze]

Quite tempting to clutch your heart and then collapse on his bonnet.

[EnidButton]

Middle finger.

Although I saw someone on Reddit suggest doing a big thumbs up and beaming at anyone getting road ragey. So that could be an option.

[mylittlephoney]

Middle finger and a moonwalk back and forth between pavements. Wanker

[cakedup]

I am a member of the highways team for my council. Could you inform the council? We would want to know if delays at the traffic lights are causing problems and these things can be easily fixed. Are you totally sure the lights have not turned green for the cars whilst you are still crossing, hence the honking?

[MaidOfStars]

Not RTFT, in order to give a succinct answer that I'm hoping is about the hundredth repetition....

The middle finger.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

I tend to turn and do the 'what?' stance.

[Huffletuff]

Blow them a kiss. It works very well, more than a smile and wave, I've found.

[tinymeteor]

Moon them

[drinkingtea]

I used to do a lollypop lady duty once a week, and an elderly man used the school lollypop crossing patrol as an opportunity to do his shopping, as he couldn't cross in the time the green man allowed. So I used to stand in the road with my lollypop for probably a full minute after the lights changed. There really wasn't any other way he would have got across the road unless he gave up his independence...

The kids almost all walk to our primary but the one oh so important suited and booted dad who drove his kids, arriving and leaving slightly too fast each day, always, always got held up on his way to his important job by the old guy crossing and honked and gesticulated. Yep, I smiled and waved and pretended to think he was simply beeping to say hello... Arse that he was and doubtless still is...

[SandyDenny]

I find it hard to believe that so many people would be flicking the Vs at unknown drivers when they are literally inches from their cars with a small child in tow. Are you really so irresponsible that you risk making someone who's already cross with you even more annoyed.

Are the keyboard warriors really so brave IRL?

If you really wanted to make a point why not got to the drivers window and politely ask them if there's something they are warning you about?

[WaitrosePigeon]

Middle finger, that's all.

[Longleggedlovely]

My niece was taught at nursery when crossing the road to hold her hand up in a stop position (i.e. palm flat towards the driver) while crossing but obviously looking where she is going. I always giggle as she is a wee blonde that looks like she's giving a hitler style salute but it always gets a smile from drivers and she knows to be road safe!

[GabsAlot]

just smile an wave-your not supposed to hurry anyone up by beeping at them even on a zebra crossing

sorry im till laughing at driving up my chuff

[Cutesbabasmummy]

Flick the v at them!

[CatsPurr]

There are a few options there OP! The drivers are very unreasonable.

My current fave thing to do, to avoid swearing infront of the kids, is joint point. Nice strong, straight arm and finger and deadpan face and just point. Its funny watching reactions, people look confused or unsettled teach you dd to do the same

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

Saucy they probably don't realise it is an odd light but then again, the road they are on only leads to the next village so chances are they are local. Also there are ways to do it - a tradesman once stuck his head out his van window and said, Oh love I think that light's broken, go on and cross.

That is fine - honking at a 2yo not so much!

[ASDismynormality]

I'd walk really slowly!

[chocolateworshipper]

Totally ignore, then do pretend sign-language to DD as you cross.

[Goldenhandshake]

This has happened and I have stopped in front of their car and turned my head to look at them in disbelief, with e perfect 'wtf' expression. Pisses them off even more. I do not hurry along

[MelsMam]

Wave and smile at the dipshits.