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.

On foot, I give a little wave if I haven't got my hands full, but it seems to me that more drivers expect to be acknowledged in this way these days. If pedestrians are on the pavement facing the crossing with the clear intention of crossing the road, then of course I bloody stop. Any driver who doesn't is either a dick or not paying attention.

Weeping willow - refer to the third answer (and the 2nd and 1st..)

No Highway Code says it’s only mandatory to stop once someone has stepped onto the crossing. But what person would do that and not wait to be sure that the car/van is going to stop? And it’s doubly rude to point out to a person that you think they’re being rude. So the van guy was out of line.
I don’t thank drivers stopped at a temporary light but I do thank people for stopping even if I have the right of way (like pinch point in the road).

Brecon - yes def a newer trend.

Just thank them. I take your point though.

I find pedestrians on their phones crossing on zebra but not really paying attention to the road irritating as a driver

A lot of rude drivers as well who just pull out and then don't thank you

When driving though, it's relatively clear in the highway code who has right off way when say, passing parked cars etc. but drivers still wave to say thankyou to each other for waiting and letting you through just because it's courteous and makes for a nicer, happier world. Obviously it's not mandatory and no one should suffer abuse if they choose not to but I don't think it's a bad thing in itself to say thank you to someone for giving way even if they were technically supposed to.

In the situation you describe there was no need for the van driver to heckle you but it is polite to acknowledge others (motorists, pedestrians, cyclists) if they stop for you

I would wave to acknowledge my thanks to cars stopped at a red light or junction but I always wave when a driver waits to allow you to pass a row of parked cars or enter from a side road and would do the same when a driver stops for me as a pedestrian

Should say wouldnt at start of second paragraph not would!

I know people should stop BUT I always smile and say thanks when on them. Takes me a while to get over them and, more and more drivers see it as some sort of option.

Last summer I was nearly run over by someone speeding down the outside lane (inside had stopped as I was crossing). Scared the shit out of me. Year before a woman was hit at the same crossing, driver attempted to argue that the crossing was illegal (it's not) so they had the right of way and lost (not a shock!) she was very badly injured, as with me a lorry had stopped to let me cross so I couldn't see the other lane, unlike me she didn't check to see if the outside lane was stopped and kept going.

He was rude to shout.

But I do think it’s odd to find basic manners like a wave or a simple smile so hard to understand. Just the same as if I am driving and a driver let’s me through I always thank them as I pass.

YANBU - there’s nothing wrong with a wave of thanks, but it’s not something a driver should expect or shout at you for. Some people are just arseholes when they drive - a man leaned out of his window and threatened to run me over this morning as he turned into the side road I was already crossing. He was on the wrong side of the road, and HC rule 170 says pedestrians have priority, but he’s still got to shout abuse at pedestrians.

Sirzy- I find eye contact and acknowledging strangers stressful and difficult. I would rather just keep my head down and cross the road. I do t see why I should suffer abuse for doing something I'm entitled to do by law.

If I chose to cross at non crossing points or 'jay walk' where I liked, then sure, I could understand the irritation.

Everyone (surely?) knows you have to stop at zebra crossings.

That's why the zig zag lines are there- to keep them clear so that drivers can see if a pedestrian is approaching.

You can tell a lot about people by the way they treat people who are obligated to do stuff for them.

The way you treat waiters and waitresses, shop assistants, hotel cleaning staff, and people who stop for you on a pedestrian crossing.

If you fail to acknowledge them, because "that's their job" or "they have to stop anyway", that's a massive red flag for me.

You don’t have to make eye contact BUT you do have to realise that will to a stranger appear rude. So your best bet is to not care what strangers think

Lifecraft - not a fair comparison imo.

Of course you would thank a shop assistant if they helped you. If they just robotically stood there and said nothing then maybe not. A mere 'good afternoon' would suffice. And besides that is a personal interaction, not between a pedestrian and a vehicle.

Perhaps that's what is the issue here- people mixing up courtesy with thanks.

You thank people for doing things they don't necessarily have to do.

In future I maybe will just should "good day" to all and sundry and avoid offending people who will apparently take offence at anything even if none is intended.

I usually put a hand up, but sometimes I am carrying heavy stuff, or need them both to push the buggy. Some drivers get very stroppy about it.

Though nothing in comparison to when there is no zebra crossing and a driver slows, but I politely decline to cross in front of them.

I don't think you were rude op. You're quite right, it does not merit thanks because this is a right, not a privilege we're talking about.

Thanks or acknowledgement in this situation costs little but so it does if my husband does the washing up. I could say 'ah, thanks babe' (and sometimes find myself doing so) but why should I? It just entrenches his instinctive feeling that he's doing me a favour when he's not.

Re acknowledging other drivers with a hand gesture though if they've waited or let you pull out, I mostly do but what REALLY gets my goat is if for some reason I don't (or not speedily enough) DH will do it for me ! It makes me want to tell him through gritted teeth to get out and walk.

well, no, you didn't really answer it but never mind.

What's your AIBU? Seeing is clearly you are RIGHT and everyone else is WRONG?

“- I find eye contact and acknowledging strangers stressful and difficult. I would rather just keep my head down and cross the road”

You what? It’s putting your hand up in thanks, what could be stressful and difficult about it?

It’s normal to thank drivers when you cross the ZC. Not a new thing. And yes people do thank considerate driving. All part of being British isn’t it?

I give a little wave. But I also do that if, say, a car let's me through a narrowed space such as past a parked car, even if it's my priority.

I don't think the cars "have" to stop until you put a foot on the crossing. Of course it's a good idea to stop in anticipation!

I also hate it when pedestrians who show no sign of being about to cross.whatsoever suddenly step sideways/ diagonally onto the crossing without looking. Which they do alot here (London)

Weeping - read my answers.

The AIbu is whether it's reasonable to cross the road at a zebra crossing without abuse if you don't wave your hand to the driver who has graciously decided to follow the law and stop to let a pedestrian cross.

You think that's ok. Fine - your opinion.

Read the thread, there are other opinions besides yours. We'll see what the concensus is shall we?

Pass the cherry coke - educate yourself about aspergers.

A driver doesn't have to stop if you're waiting to cross, they only have to stop if you are already crossing; so if they stop to let you cross, it's courteous to thank them, because they don't have to.

You fail your driving test if you don’t stop, I know this because my DP did a few years ago. The pedestrian has right of way and it is most definitely mandatory to stop.

Agreed that pedestrians don’t need to thank drivers on a zebra, they have every right to be crossing there!

tothappy God yes! Passengers who put their hands up.for you are the worst! Especially irritating if it's a DH I imagine, suggesting they are sort of the the person really in charge of the car. I remember my parents doing this when I'd recently passed my test and beinf annoyed.

Similar thing - passengers who crane forward and junctions to see if anything is coming. Sit back! I am the one who needs to see and you are now blocking my view. Used to get this one alot with au pairs, weirdly

I've never had an accident in 20+ years regular driving before you all imagine I'm so kind of liability!