Zebra crossings

[TheZebraCrosser]

I was under the impression that when driving, stopping to let a pedestrian cross on a zebra crossing (white stripes on road, big flashing Belisha beacons) was in fact mandatory, not discretionary.

So why did some twat in a van holler 'could have put your hand up to say thank you you ignorant sod' as I (a pedestrian) sauntered across the other day.

I have noticed (as a motorist) that more and more pedestrians are now scuttling across zebra crossings almost apologetically while mouthing thank you s and waving.

This is all very well and sweet of them but it leaves me a bit bemused as they have a right to cross anyway.

I'm wondering now, if, when I get to the end of temporary traffic lights, would I be advised to 'thank' the person waiting at the other end for not jumping the red light? To thank someone for giving way at a roundabout if you gave right if way anyway?

And then there are people who step out into the road with no crossing at all without so much as batting an eyelid and scream abuse if you don't dodge them by a wide enough margin.

Help needed.

I've always waved or mouthed a thank you. Surely that's the right thing to do? Because I've usually got each of their hands so none free, my 4 yo dt's will always wave a thank you to any driver that stops and lets us across whether that's at an island, a crossing or traffic lights.

MenuPlant

I agree, the man in the van was far ruder than the OP. I was merely explaining to the OP the reason why PPs are saying that she was rude not to thank the driver.

Personally, as I said, I wouldn’t even notice whether a pedestrian at a zebra crossing thanked me or not, the van driver was definitely being ridiculous.

Lizzie - oh, so I am being rude now because I don't wave, am I ?!

I’m not saying that, no. As I said, it doesn’t bother me one way or the other. I’m explaining why posters have reacted the way they have.

I think a lot is to do with people somehow feeling more powerful and important when they are safe in their car

This.

It's like the Wild West on the roads in Manchester. Few people obey speed limits and many drive through red lights. The number of drivers who actually stop at zebra crossing are minute.

I try and remember to say thanks to those who do stop at crossing points but I don't always remember. It's not the worst crime in the world and at least my actions won't harm anyone.

Thecanyon- but stopping at an island is a different kettle of fish to stopping at a crossing. Whether pelican, puffin or zebra.

Waving for a driver stopping at an island does make sense, because drivers don't have to.

People claiming that I'm rude on this basis and subsequently making huge assumptions about my behaviour with waiters and the like are (who have to wait at table) are not comparing like with like. There is no diners code anyway.

It's nonsense to conflate general road usage with day to day service industry interactions.

Further, they are demonstrating that they are not getting the point. They don't understand the way driver/ pedestrian interaction works.

Staff, read 16.08. Clearly I know how to spell. And it's mown not mowed.

(Also, apparently pointing out grammatical & spelling errors - whether caused by auto correct OR ignorance - on this thread is an admission you think the other party is right. Apparently..)

It's steff. Your/you're and where/wear are both common autocorrect errors, yet you felt the need to point them out to someone else. In fact, you went on to imply that the person who made the error can't spell. Therefore, I assumed that you'd want your autocorrect errors pointed out as well. My mistake

And I maintain that mowed is the better word here, although neither is incorrect.

Staff stuff steff - it was where / were actually.

That is not an autocorrect option on any device I have.

It's easy to tell the difference between auto correct errors and lack of education by looking at the context. A word can be correctly spelt but used wrongly. Discreet / discrete being a common example.

But the thread isn't about grammar anyway.

I can't remember if you had anything relevant to contribute?

Who was the first person to pick on grammar 🤔

There was a thread about this years ago where a poster made me chuckle with the image of pedestrians grovelling across zebra crossings in eternal gratitude to the car driving gods.
I guess that's my feeling on it. It's our right to cross, some drivers think they're doing you a massive favour stopping, I want to challenge that attitude so no, I'm not doing the grateful wave. I don't expect it when driving and I can't understand why anyone would get worked up about it. I mean, how bad a day was this guy having that he was driven to shout at someone because he didn't feel adequately appreciated for fulfilling a legal obligation?
Most drivers round here are lovely. Too lovely - always stopping to let me and kids cross the road even though there's loads of cars coming the other way (non pedestrian crossing) so I have to do a hilarious pantomime with my head (hands on pushchair) to indicate I'm waiting....

I mean, how bad a day was this guy having that he was driven to shout at someone because he didn't feel adequately appreciated for fulfilling a legal obligation?

Nail. On. Head.

Although Trees - some posters would argue it isn't his legal obligation.

I spent some time in Manchester, mentioned by a PP.

As a result, I always wave or nod to cars that stop on zebra crossings, as an appreciation of my gratitude to them for not actively trying to kill me.

But I shouldn't have to, and it's an indictment on car drivers in general that I feel I have to be grateful that someone is paying attention and obeying the rules. Because it would be more accurate to say that the "accepted social norm" that some posters keep banging on about is that pedestrians shouldn't be on the road, under any circumstances and if you see one, you should accelerate at them. For bonus points, yell out the window at them about how fat/slow they are or the fact that they're not smiling for you.

Some social norms suck. They aren't inherently good.

For bonus points, yell out the window at them about how fat/slow they are or the fact that they're not smiling for you.

I bet a lot of posters on here secretly do this and it's touching a nerve for them.

Many have already shown themselves to be rather dense and ill educated bullies. Just the sort who think it makes them look big to yell out of their (usually crappy) cars, come to think of it...

Great post Chouetted. I also wave a thank you, but I do get the impression that some motorists expect pedestrians to bow down in gratitude for allowing them to cross the road.

Cars should stop, and Must stop if you are on the crossing

See rule 195 of the Highway Code
www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203
Zebra crossings. As you approach a zebra crossing
• look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop to let them cross
• you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing
• allow more time for stopping on wet or icy roads
• do not wave or use your horn to invite pedestrians across; this could be dangerous if another vehicle is approaching
• be aware of pedestrians approaching from the side of the crossing.

Other posters are right that cars only MUST stop if you are on the crossing but I think that rule needs revising as for pedestrians that basically means you need to walk out onto a crossing and trust that cars obey thus rule when experience tells you they sometimes don't. It's safer to wait and be clearly ready to cross but then you are in a catch 22 when the drivers may ignore you.

I have noticed cars just ignoring pedestrians @ zebras recently, especially on certain crossings, it's very annoying not to mention unsafe.

The sultan - some motorists?!

More like 95% based on this thread.

Be aware of pedestrians approaching from the side of the crossing

but only if they are waving and simpering. If not; drive on, drive over if necessary..

Sometimes if I notice there's loads of cars coming, I will deliberately walk slower or busy myself doing nothing and stay away from the zebra crossing until I notice a gap... Because I feel bad ""making"" drivers stop.

Aleela- that too is bonkers!

When you do cross though, do you perform a retrospective wave?

Horse riders are expected to wave their thanks to drivers who slow down for them, even though its the law. I always do as it's polite and hopefully encourages them to do the same next time.

There's no harm is smiling at someone who's stopped at a crossing for you.

When you do cross though, do you perform a retrospective wave?

Yes though I reign in mouthing thank you! I don't know why, it just happens naturally! I guess I just feel I'm holding them up.

From someone who's lecturing me on how to be polite

I wasn't being rude. You were making a ridiculous excuse to explain the fact that your told a poster or posters to, um, "go away" when the actual reason was simple rudeness.

Soup, was looking forward to watching you work your way out of that.

Still have no idea what you were on about there. Not that I actually care really

I stop when I see pedestrians approaching/waiting at a zebra crossing, I don't care if they say thank you but it's good manners if they do and as a pedestrian I always raise a hand to acknowledge a driver who has stopped. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Basic manners.

guess I just feel I'm holding them up

If this is what things have come to, it stinks.

Walking is more environmentally friendly, and has health benefits.

It's the car drivers who should feel guilty for holding the pedestrians up.

Thetapir, interesting. Is that a Highway Code stipulation or just custom.

I always slow for horses as I ride and love them.

Do you encounter problems using crossings, or do you ride mainly off road?