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.

yes def a newer trend.

Def not a newer trend. My mum was doing it in the sixties!

BTW, if I was going to shout at you, it would be because you were "sauntering". I'm not expecting you to do the hop skip and jump thing that people do, but at least make an effort not to hold up the traffic for longer than necessary eh? Even if they are obliged to wait for you.

I think you have to stop if there is someone waiting. It's an offense not to-I think called "Failure to give due precedence"

In real terms, my dm used to remind us of Elisa Clay:
"Here lies the remains of Elisa Clay
Who died maintaining her right of way
Her way was right, her will was strong
But she's just as dead as if she were wrong."

Oh of course. So you have additional needs which mean you actually can’t put your hand up and thank the driver who stopped for you?

Of course you do, I should’ve known 🤦🏼‍♀️

So we’ll no, if you are unable to comply with expected social norms you are going to find people react poorly to you. But you’re probably used to that

Back to the OP - you don't have to thank them but I do!

It's fine to choose to indicate your thanks if you want to, but no one should be heckled for not doing so, since pedestrians are entitled to cross the road at a crossing designed for the purpose. It's like saying "thanks for not murdering me with your big metal box as per the law".

In other countries pedestrians still do not have right of way on a crossing. But they did in the UK. As drivers do not often take a UK test so they do not know the rules of our roads. They simply apply their own rules here when faced with similar signs. My grip is on roundabouts; when drivers on the left just drive through, not giving way to cars on the right.....what the heck!

Pass the cherry - I find that a very offensive and intolerant remark.

I think you're the rude one here.

Pass the cherry coke - apparently thinks it's ok for society to treat people with special needs poorly?!

Or does it only count if it's a "visible" disability?

Totally agree with you OP. I get really annoyed by the number of people who hang around for ages waiting for cars to come to a total halt before starting to cross. If you never step out then traffic never has to stop for you. I quite often walk past people hanging on the edge of the pavement because I've assessed cars are far enough away to see me and stop.

As a driver I get annoyed by being thanked because I'm haven't done them a favour. I've stopped because it's the law, not because I'm doing them a kindness.

The point is you can’t expect people to know, any more than you can’t know that the man who shouted wasn’t also autistic and has been taught to always say thank you so had an outburst.

If you don’t thank people then people will automatically think that is rude because society says it is. He shouldn’t have shouted, ideally you should have acknowledged him someway.

But it happened so simple solution is to move on

Well exactly - thanks dappled things- now wait for everyone to call you rude / arrogant etc!

I always say thank you.
Yes they have to stop but more and more drivers seem to be ignoring that rule. So, I always thank them for stopping and not being one of those drivers who just ignores and carries on driving.

Shouldn't be driving here if they cannot adapt to the UK Highway Code as far as I am concerned

I’m in my 50s and have always said thank you when crossing, it’s what I was bought up to do, same as saying thanks to the bus driver, the shop assistant etc. My Mum would have gone mad if we had been so ill mannered as to not say thank you.

I suppose the "you should have waved" response is typical of the driver who thinks that stopping for anything from a red light to a fire engine is beneath them.

I'm surprised that zebra crossings are still around, to be honest - they can be quite dangerous if the road is too busy, because drivers don't respect them. Many of the ones which were zebra crossings in my childhood have been converted to those with lights, presumably in response to accidents. In some cases, there are some where the flow of pedestrians is so continuous that drivers would sometimes have to stop for minutes (outside Tesco in Brixton was one such). This led to a mentality of "I must get through before the peasants pedestrians get there". Some zebra crossings were also immediately before a roundabout; so drivers would be looking at the traffic on the roundabout, not at the pedestrians, especially those on the driver's left.

Off topic, my parents told me about a trick that people sometimes played if they had a large enough group: if a roundabout had zebra crossings all the way round, they would stop the traffic by walking all the way round the ring of crossings, like a crocodile chasing its tail, until drivers got out of their cars to yell at them.

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

That's where we differ. I also that people for doing things they do have to do. The waitress has to bring me my food. The driver has stop if I've put a foot on the crossing.

I don't have to thank either of them, because that's what they are obligated to do. But I do thank them, because it's the right thing to do.

Many drivers don't bother to stop at zebra crossings so it is nice and polite to acknowledge a driver who does stop to let you cross. Manners cost nothing.

You only have to stop if the pedestrian has entered the crossing. I give a wave normally:

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

• youMUSTgive 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.

Demented- I get that.

I had put my foot - van had to stop. Or mow me down (which, according to some, would appear to be the better option).

Demented- interesting that drivers are not allowed to wave, because it might be confusing presumably - but pedestrians apparently must (because it's rude not to!)

Who has said he should have mowed you down?

People are simply pointing out that manners are nice and just because someone has to do something doesn’t mean you can’t thank them for it

I agree with you OP. I cross at a zebra crossing every day on my way to work. The worst ones for not stopping are taxis and bikes. Although where I live a lot of cyclists don't seem to stop at traffic lights either.

Sirzy, the options are:

• stop
• mow me down
• verbally abuse me

Take your pick.

And he stopped. Who has said he should have mowed you down?

Nobody has said he was right to shout either but since when do two wrongs make a right? If anything you where both rude!

OP your posts are really strange. You do realise that the Highway Code is a code, not the law don’t you? What do you think is going to happen to a driver who gives an ill advised little wave?