To be getting increasingly pissed off with drivers not stopping at zebra crossings?

[Rainatnight]

Is this happening in anyone else's area? Over the past couple of years, I've noticed a real problem in my area with drivers not stopping at zebra crossings. I thought it was just cos I'd just become a pushchair-pusher and was out walking around with DD more, so was noticing it.

But recently it's got even worse again, and it's now happening at least once a day where I live.

It's so dangerous!

What's it like where other people live? And is there anything that can be done? I feel like I should complain to someone but I don't know who!

[Chouetted]

I don't cross zebra crossings if there's a car coming that hasn't stopped - I've been scared out of my wits by cars refusing to stop for me too many times. I'd rather wait for an empty road.

I'm sorry that it annoys car drivers, but I'm not sure what else I can do - I'm disabled, and can't guarantee I'll get out of the way of the next car in time.

[WhenISnappedAndFarted]

I live in London too and have really noticed it.

I put my foot on one the other day, a car had slowed down but they continued to drive over the crossing. I had to move back pretty quickly and they beeped their horn at me. I was there before they were even there, I started crossing and they beep at me.

[NorthernRunner]

Yes it really angers and worries me.

I’m a childminder in east London and I’m often walking about with a couple of under 3s and I feel like I really need to have eyes everywhere because sadly I don’t trust the cars to stop. I have also in the past walked different routes to avoid crossings that I know are particularly bad.

[Tolleshunt]

A few weeks ago a driver clipped a pram on a zebra crossing close to me.

By some miracle the baby was unharmed, though the pram ended up on its side. I don't think the car was traveling very fast. Doesn't bear thinking about what might have happened if it had been.

[recrudescence]

So stop standing waiting and just cross the GD road.

That would get you killed where I live.

[Rainatnight]

Same here.

Interesting to see so many east Londoners. That's where I am too. I wonder if we live near each other!

[Misty9]

Yes! This boils my blood every school run as cars just don't stop. I've been nearly hit so many times when halfway across and the oncoming car just kept going
A couple of times I've ended up remonstrating with the driver as they screech to a halt halfway across the crossing and they are always defensive and rarely apologetic. I now get my phone out to record anyone not stopping...

As for what you can do, I reported it my local MP and they looked into changing it to a pedestrian crossing with lights but were told no. They wait until fatalities occur it seems

[Misty9]

I'm in east Anglia by the way

[Lockheart]

I'm in London and I've never noticed this. I use 2 zebra crossings on my commute (so a total of 4 a day) and people always stop.

[ThomasHardyPerennial]

Happens in my West Yorkshire town too. I was nearly hit by a car, as I had stepped out (when clear), and the approaching driver didn't slow down or stop at all. I try and avoid them at all costs now, they seem to risky.

[WitsEnding]

Haven't noticed the problem on zebra crossings so much as pelicans- drivers are happy to go through the red light if there's no chance of a car coming the other way. On some of the crossings in my road, the green man comes on at the same time as the red light so running the lights is particularly dangerous.

[PippilottaLongstocking]

I nearly got hit by a car that didn’t stop when I was already 2/3 of the way across a zebra crossing. To make it worse he then stopped across it instead of carrying on so
I had to walk out around his car to get across the road! I wish I’d got a photo of his number plate but it was so terrifying that I didn’t even think about it til he’d gone.

Another incident very recently where someone got hit on a zebra crossing near me.

And another where the car did stop for me but the car behind drove straight into the back of them

[Oldbutstillgotit]

I just managed to jump out of the way a few weeks ago as I crossed on a zebra crossing . Woman wound down her window and told me to get a fucking move on . Am in East Scotland .

[TheSultanofPingu]

So sorry you have to wait while people cross the road starzig
That must be really frustrating for you.

[JenniferJareau]

I'm London based too and this is very common.

People going on about 'just cross the road' these cars don't stop! They are going far too fast to start crossing safely.

Also does anyone see far more people at a green man crossing not reading the road ahead and then being over the crossing itself so you have to walk around them?

[HandsOffMyRights]

Happens by me too (Midlands) but it must happen everywhere.

It scares the hell out of me as my children cross a busy main road after school.

I was at a crossing two a couple of weeks ago and the driver sped through. I tell my kids not to rely on drivers stopping. Not at a Zebra or pedestrian lights - a little girl was killed. They were crossing (the green man was on) yet the driver's poor eyesight meant he failed to see them.

My other issue is speed. I keep to limits but others don't. I want them to really think about the children coming out of school and what might happen if they couldn't stop in time. If they want to drive like dicks, I can't stop them but don't tailgate me and bully me into driving too fast in a school zone.

[Hanumantelpiece]

I really think the law needs changing. Yes, theoretically drivers should stop if you have one foot on the crossing, but on busy roads, as a pedestrian, you don't want to step out if there is fast-flowing traffic.
For people with mobility issues, disabilities, small children in tow, or any other cause to be slower or more cautious, then the problem becomes worse .
Drivers should be aware of the road, and so should slow at crossings, ready to stop.

We have a couple near me where people have been hit whilst crossing. Thankfully not at great speed, but one is directly outside a primary school. Both school & crossing are well signed from either direction. Inexcusable.

[Betty777]

where I am I've noticed most of the local crossings badly need repainted - they are almost invisible, especially where there are trees and dappled sunlight.
I only know to stop sometimes as I'm local and know where they are (mostly from my own time on mat leave pushing a pram)

I know councils are strapped for cash but I doubt the paint is that expensive?

[Podemos]

Ironically I was just saying the exact opposite just a few days ago.

We were in Spain last week and I commented to DP that visitors to Britain must be amazed how cars stop for you when you're just waiting at a zebra crossing.

Any other country I visit follow the rule that cars stop if the pedestrian is ON the crossing and never if you're just waiting.

And don't get me started on the countries where a green man doesn't always mean the cars will be stopped - lots still allow left turning cars even when the green man is on for pedestrians (well actually usually right turning cars but would be our equivalent to a left turn: i.e. not across traffic)

I love travelling but the one thing I always miss is British road crossings! I'm not in London though.

[Jammydodger1981]

Dd1 (18) was hit by a driver failing to stop on a zebra crossing last month. Luckily no serious injuries, the police said it could have been very different outcome for a child or elderly person.

Stupid bitch said she didn’t see her but witnesses confirmed Dd was in the middle of the crossing when it happened and it’s a clear run up to it. I suspect she was on her phone. She only got a driving course as punishment but hopefully the claim we’re making through her insurance for dd’s damaged belongings plus the increase for having an accident makes her pocket hurt plenty when she gets her next renewal quote

[UCOforAC12]

Yes to all of this! There's a zebra and pelican crossing near my work. People are ALWAYS stopped over the zebra crossing because it's near a busy junction and they don't read the road. The pelican is slightly worse as there's no excuse it's a clear road. People regularly drive through on red. I only cross now when both cars are stopped after crossing half over and nearly being hit as I continued across. I have seen people begin to cross before both cars have stopped and cars having to slam on their brakes or the person crossing stopping dead to avoid being hit.

It seems to go hand in hand with a general self centredness of drivers who seem to be impatient that anyone else is there.

[Chocmallows]

Sure it's everywhere, I see it in Devon.

[buttermilkwaffles]

I find cars do stop at pedestrian crossings here I'm Scotland, but ten years ago I was very nearly hit by a car at a traffic light which was red for cars and green light for pedestrians.
Was about half way across a four lane road when I noticed a car coming towards me, cars in the other lanes had all stopped at the red light obviously, so I thought surely they are going to stop oh shit they are not, instantly break into a sprint and avoided getting hit by inches. Driver didn't even slow down. Some people really should not have a driving licence, how can you not notice a red light, other cars all stopped AND a person crossing the road in front of you in broad daylight on a main road in the city centre!

[ForalltheSaints]

Agree with reporting them to 101. Very noticeable in some other countries I have been to, especially Belgium, that cars do stop.

[Gwenhwyfar]

If they're passing slowly enough I hit their car with my umbrella sometimes.