... 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

My ds gives those who stop a thumbs up!

This is for the United States.
The law for people driving vehicles is to yield to the pedestrian crossing the street. Granted if the pedestrian is crossing legally. Usually when the signal says walk.
Problem is the people driving don't yield to the pedestrians. The pedestrian crossing the street can't just walk when the signal says walk. The drivers turning right or left want to keep turning.
2 good examples.
Crossing straight at a big intersection with a walk signal. Even trying to walk the cars turning right don't even let you walk. They clearly see you. Just walking and assuming who knows what will happen.
Crossing straight when a car can turn left. Usually the car turning left continues to do so. They slowly creep up on you. This is bad because its hard to see them. Assuming it safe to walk who knows what will happen.
Any person with a disability or handicapped when walking is at huge risk. Someone who walks slow can't cross fast enough. Someone with a mental disability won't anticipate the drivers not yielding. Only able bodied people in it can cross more safely.

This happened to me Thursday June 7th 2018.
Crossing a main street that had traffic at the time. A side street was at this intersection where cars can turn right or left onto the main street or go straight to stay on the side street. A car from the side street was attempting to turn left. Me and my friend were crossing the street. We didn't see the car turning until almost halfway thru walking. Next thing we hear is a car horn blasting. The car turning left didn't even stop to look to see if anybody was crossing before turning. Problem was there was another car going straight thru the intersection. This car prevented the car from turning left. No room for error. It was very close where the car turning left almost side swiped the car going straight. Had nobody been walking across the street the car turning left would have been fine. While not this extreme stuff like this happens a lot where I live.