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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think you don’t beep your horn at pedestrians with sleeping children in prams?

445 replies

CatsForgotPassword · 25/02/2018 14:01

Just had a total arsehole do this to me, when we were crossing the road. Apparently I wasn’t moving fast enough and I got a mouthful of abuse too.

You don’t do that, do you? I have joint pain, severe pain and depression and DS is ASD and I’d just got him to sleep.

Why do some people enjoy being such knobs to others?

OP posts:
Lizzie48 · 26/02/2018 10:01

No, the driver wouldn't have been driving at 30 hopefully. But she would have been accelerating and then possibly had a shock to see the OP. She wouldn't have stopped if it was a green light.

SnibbleAgain · 26/02/2018 12:55

How do you know she wouldn't have stopped?

Most car drivers stop or at least try to if there is a woman with a pushchair in their path surely Confused

I am firmly of the belief that cars should not drive into pedestrians on purpose, even if they don't like where they are on the road.

Lizzie48 · 26/02/2018 13:17

I meant she wouldn't have been expecting to stop necessarily. Once you see the road is clear, you indicate, slow down and go down a gear, and stop if you need to. But if it's a green light you wouldn't expect to. Once you've turned the corner you speed up. That could have been very dangerous, if the driver hadn't seen the OP, the driver may have reacted out of fear.

Clearly we need a diagram.

SaucyJack · 26/02/2018 13:33

"I meant she wouldn't have been expecting to stop necessarily"

If you're in turning into a road in a busy, residential area, then surely you need to expect the possibility of another road user already being there at all times.

If one does not have the driving ability or emotional resilience to cope with something so ordinary as a pedestrian already having started to cross a road before they arrive there without causing an accident or becoming abusive, then do society a favour and take the fucking bus.

Christ only knows what some of you would do in an actual emergency.

MarvelleGazelle · 26/02/2018 13:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lizzie48 · 26/02/2018 13:46

I already said her reaction was wrong and an expression of road rage. And yes you obviously should be prepared to stop, as I also said. But it sounds like it was a green light, the driver was turning or going straight ahead, we don't know. I'm saying it's possible she hadn't seen the OP and had a shock. The OP hadn't seen her after all.

No it wasn't good driving, but it's very common to come across it. That's why it wasn't the best idea ever for the OP to cross there.

MycatsaPirate · 26/02/2018 13:56

If you are going to cross the road at a crossroads then move further down to cross.

Cars coming round the corner won't see you until they turn and are right on top of you while you are in the middle of the road.

SaucyJack · 26/02/2018 14:04

"If you are going to cross the road at a crossroads then move further down to cross."

Er, nope.

You know pedestrians have places to be too?

Ridiculously arrogant to suggest those on foot should take a detour halfway up each side road of every crossroad and junction, rather than learn to drive properly.

If you're going to fast round a corner to spot another road user, then you need to reduce your speed.

SaucyJack · 26/02/2018 14:04

*too fast

crazycatgal · 26/02/2018 15:43

How is it arrogant to suggest that people don't cross at a crossroads? It will take a minute to walk further down the road so that you aren't crossing at a dangerous place.

I never cross roads at a crossroads because I have common sense, you could think the road is clear and then a car can come around the corner and have to break hard.

Lizzie48 · 26/02/2018 16:29

I agree, @crazycatgal what are some parents teaching their children about road safety? Crossing roads at junctions/between parked cars is dangerous, because it's hard for drivers to see you. If a driver honks at you or shouts, it's usually because they had a scare. Because believe it or not, most drivers don't want an accident and their worst nightmare would be causing injury to a mum with a baby in a pram.

Drivers have things they're not allowed to do, we're not allowed to do, we're not allowed to park on double yellow lines or zigzag lines. We're not allowed to to cause an obstruction. So it's not about arrogance, it's about safety and consideration for other road users.

CheeseAndOnionIceCream · 26/02/2018 16:51

Drivers shouldn't beep their horns at any pedestrians,unless they are stepping into the road in front of them without looking.

MaisyPops · 26/02/2018 18:49

And here was me thinking it's quite simple:

  1. Drivers shouldn't be abusive
  2. Pedestrians should think for 10 seconds before basing their crossing decisions on 'it was chilly and i was there first'

In other words, don't be an idiot

LoniceraJaponica · 26/02/2018 19:18

Spot on Maisy

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 26/02/2018 19:24

Maisy would you beep then at someone in the OP's situation?

MaisyPops · 26/02/2018 19:32

Depends on the junction.

I'm on green coming round a junction and a slow moving pedestrian is right there at the junction as i turn, paying zero attention to the lights - probably a light pip as i brake

If i turned into a junction and then further up i can see someone crossing the road slowly - probably not. I'd just slow down.

If the pedestrian then told me to piss off then i probably would have said 'fucking hell' exasperatedly under my breath.

ivykaty44 · 26/02/2018 19:37

so it depends on the type of junctions... you disregard the Highway Code as that’s not for you.

Do explain why the highwaycide doesn’t apply to you whilst driving?

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 26/02/2018 19:40

So in your first example how do you think beeping will solve anything?

Lizzie48 · 26/02/2018 19:51

For goodness sake, I remember learning the Green Cross Code when I was a young child, and DH and I teach it to our DDs. You find a safe place to cross, preferably at a pedestrian crossing, look right left right and listen carefully, then when you know it's safe you cross. It's not about who got there first, it's about being safe. If you're slow and have a buggy, surely you need to be extra careful, not cross at junctions where there isn't a pedestrian crossing, when the lights are not on red.

I always used to cross at pedestrian crossings when I had a child in a buggy, or a preschooler holding my hand. I made sure I taught them to cross the road safely, at a safe place.

MaisyPops · 26/02/2018 19:52

If my light is on green then i have right of way. If i see someone and I'm slowing down and i think a pedestrian hasn't seen cars then i would do a short pip.

Just like a short pip to ensure idiots who walk out in the road wearing headphones and staring at their phone actually acknowledge there's traffic.
I can count on onr hand the amount of times i've ever done it because most people aren't total dumbasses

Obviously, if the pedestrian was just up from the junction and not walking straight under green lights at a junction then it would have been safer.

Though to be fair as my DH points out even a short pip to make oblivious idiots aware won't change thr fact they're a total idiot (if i chose to cross at a stupid place bevause it's chilly is the level of logic some people apply and others claim they deliberately walk out in front of cars because they want to make them stop then they're going to go through life like a fool)

ivykaty44 · 26/02/2018 19:59

So you ignore the Highway Code but can’t explain why Maisypops

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 26/02/2018 20:01

Well let's hope for your sakes Maisy and Lizzie you don't go ploughing into someone that shouldn't be crossing the road you're driving on ( according to you both obviously ) it would be terrible to be sent to prison for causing someone's death because of your shit and pompous attitudes.

TotHappy · 26/02/2018 20:02

I agree a cross road isn't a safe place to cross, but if there was no crossing and the lights she saw were on red it doesn't mean no traffic could enter that road; they could have been lights to stop the traffic from coming straight on but green for traffic coming round the corner. In fact i think that's very likely.

Lizzie48 · 26/02/2018 20:12

@GreatDuckCookery don't be so goady. Drivers always have to watch what they're doing, that's a given. But I still teach my DDs to take care to cross the road at a safe place, preferably at a pedestrian crossing. Because sadly, accidents do happen. Just watch the news.

ivykaty44 · 26/02/2018 20:13

www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/pedestrians.html

Have a read of the Highway Code and pedestrians and try to realise that they use the road by rights and motorists by licence, which can be withdrawn