... to thank drivers who stop at pedestrian crossings?

[Deadwood58]

I always do the hand gesture to thank drivers who stop for me to cross at zebra crossings and traffic lights.

Dh says this is ridiculous as they have to stop - I say it doesn't hurt to be polite.

Who is being unreasonable

I always lift my hand up in thanks, it's a reflex action now :D

Chatty I and OP are talking about the pedestrians not the drivers though - the people walking in the public space.

People in car bubbles are operating in a private space, with a sense of social detachment and safety. If (on average, not particular) they do so differently from their 'public space' persona, well that's interesting.

Other examples would be; who gets asked for directions more often? approached by strangers asking anything? greets or greeted by starngers? told to cheer up or comented upon by strangers?

I find in public as pedestrians the same again to be fair. Men will offer help, hold doors open for pushchairs etc even the teenagers. Don’t know about who gets asked more for directions etc though as that’s only been elderly drivers lost who can only ask who is directly around. It’s the male dog walkers than tend to saying morning/hello while the females just continue along. Although tends to be the females who comment on how you look/appear

I always say thank you when I'm crossing the road - it's just habit. I only learned to drive last year so it's something that's been ingrained into me since I was a child.

As a driver I always thank drivers who let me past. I drive on a lot of single track country lanes with multiple passing places, and I think it's really rude to completely ignore the fact that someone has stopped, pulled over or reversed for you. Yes, it might be something I have to do anyway, but surely it's polite to acknowledge someone doing something that helps you?

I always give a wave of thanks to drivers who stop and like it when pedestrians do the same to me when I'm driving.

Often I stop for a young boy (7-ish) at a zebra crossing near me. He always gives a big smile and a wave and it really cheers me up. I wish I knew his parents, so I could thank them for instilling such nice manners in their little lad.

I usually smile and nod. It is partly to make sure they have seen me.

I do, more and more because where I live it’s becoming increasingly common for drivers not to stop.
In the past week alone there have been 3 occasions when its been obvious that I’ve waiting to cross and cars have just zoomed past. It may be because there are traffic lights up ahead that are showing green, but really that is no excuse.
Nowadays it seems that a lot of drivers are simply ignorant and a danger on the road, so that those that do stop deserve some thanks.

For people saying they're not doing you a favour, no they're not, but neither is a waitress or a shop assistant but you still say thank you, I think it's polite and always do even if hands are full I'll nod or smile, but it genuinely doesn't bother me as a driver if someone doesn't, especially at school run time when they're clearly busy wrangling children.

I always thank at a zebra crossing, particularly because round here people seem to suddenly go blind around them! So I make a point of glaring at the ones that carry on and thank the ones who stop

Of course I do, it’s a small gesture that goes a long way. I appreciate the acknowledgement when pedestrians do the same when I’m driving. It’s just ‘nice’.

What really annoys me though, is when people on ‘not terribly busy’ roads press the button to cross, but cross before then, leaving you sitting waiting like a chump for nothing 👹

Also one of the failsafe ways I have found of spotting a DP who’s probably not going to be nice or polite to me, is one who’s not nice or polite to others, including strangers. I really look out for thanking etc.

Aka 'the waitress test'.

Is it just something about zebra crossings (could be, it's quite an impersonal interaction), or are the 'non-thanking DPs' ungrateful and ungracious generally?

I acknowledge drivers who stop for me at a crossing. Ds also likes to wave too

For people saying they're not doing you a favour, no they're not, but neither is a waitress or a shop assistant but you still say thank you,

There is no comparison. A waitress is doing a job. They are not legally obliged to do it. If they decide they don't want to then they haven't broken any laws.

A car who doesn't stop for someone who is on a crossing is acting illegally. I don't generally thank people for doing what they are legally supposed to do. The fact that people think it's rude not to thank drivers just shows how deferential people are to the car. And that we have idiots like alreadytaken who seem perfectly happy to use their vehicle to intimidate shows how much the car-centric culture needs to change.

What really annoys me though, is when people on ‘not terribly busy’ roads press the button to cross, but cross before then, leaving you sitting waiting like a chump for nothing

Why does that annoy you? They don't know when a safe gap is going to appear. Or would you rather they wait and waste their time just so you don't feel put out?

I thank at zebras but when at traffic lights I don't as at lights they legally have to stop.

Put your foot on the edge of the road and they legally have to stop at a zebra crossing too.

I never thought about saying thank you or gesturing my seal of approval to a car that stopped to allow me to cross. I don't think I should thank a driver for stopping to allow me to cross a street when I am doing it legally. It's the law. Even if I tried to say Thank You or hand gesture my thanks the driver probably wouldn't like it. Then other drivers would look at me. Simple reason people driving always seem to be in a huge hurry. Really I am better off saying nothing.

The law for drivers is to yield to the pedestrians when they are crossing the street. This is when the pedestrian crosses legally. Problem is the majority of drivers don't yield. The driver dares the pedestrian to walk faster. Some drivers are worse some better. The average driver keep the vehicle in motion even when they see a pedestrian crossing. Then as soon as the pedestrian is out of there way the driver speeds off like a bat out of hell. The pedestrian must yield to the drivers in this world. Problem is this makes walking across streets intimidating or dangerous at times. Any person handicapped being physically or mentally is at huge risk. What is sad is nothing is done about it.
I get so annoyed by it I stay in more.

I always make eye contact and acknowledge to check they've seen me.... the crossing near us is before a mini roundabout since often cars slow down and then speed up if roundabout clear.

It's not a zebra crossing, it's red tarmac with a stripy pole which apparently confers the same rights... but not sure how many drivers know this! I've had to yank my kids out the way of cars before now so I now won't cross until I know I've been seen.

I acknowledge anywhere that isn't a defined crossing (not a zebra, island, or lights). I know pedestrians should have right of way anyway, but to me it's courtesy, just one of those things that oils the wheels of society, like holding a door or joining a queue.

Amerkin I think you might work at the end of my street. I have lived here for 20 years and know the light cycle really well. Folk don't half get the hump at non pressers!
Same on the train. There's no point hammering at the door open button until it changes from red to green.

Yes, I put my hand up to say thank you and often mouth thank you which is maybe a bit embarassing when I think about it. But it's important to be polite. They've stopped for you so say thank you.

I will nod or thank a driver under 1 circumstance. If I cross a street that has no walk signal. This is if the driver actually stops and lets me cross. By this I mean they see me trying to cross and stop to let me cross. Not me crossing forcing them to stop. Most just slow down and get mad I am in the way.
At any intersection with a walk signal I will not thank them. Its the law for the driver of said car to stop and let the pedestrians cross. I am not going to nod or thank them for doing the proper thing. I expect this sort of thing. That is why there are rules and laws.

I either give a nod and smile or raise a hand. What I do depends weather I have my children holding my hands. (I am not a driver and didn't know it was law to stop at a zebra crossing as many don't).
I don't do the above at traffic lights as the lights go red for drivers so they have to stop.

Where I live, you are lucky that people stop at a zebra crossing. You have to walk out and hope they stop. Then again, I see lots of drivers going though red lights, blocking yellow box junctions etc so road manners are quite low.

Do drivers thank pedestrians for stopping and waiting for drivers to pass??

Nope! So why should pedestrians have to say thanks for letting them cross??