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.

NWYBHS

Nonsense.

Op, yes its morons like these that make our roads unsafe. Would we barge our way past in the supermarket with our trollies? No, but somehow its ok on the roads. Might is right and all that. Drivers don't thank other drivers at lights, so why should pedestrians?

Thanking drivers for not running you over is ridiculous.

How bloody rude Lola! Just because you're busy doesn't mean you need to forget your manners, surely you can pause for a moment to acknowledge how kind and generous other road users are for not acting illegally and possibly killing you!

I always mouth a thank you as it's polite. I walk across at my normal pace though. Rushing or scurrying across isn't necessary.

People who don't use manners are rude.

Lolasmiles- I would agree manners are important.

But to accuse someone of being rude for not waving at a driver who stops - when everyone knows the driver has to stop anyway - is hardly on the same level of slamming a door in someone's face, is it?

I think a lot is to do with people somehow feeling more powerful and important when they are safe in their car (or behind their keyboard).

I bet most of these posters wouldn't say boo to a goose in real life.

It's often the case that bullies are cowards.

'it’s called manners. It’s something we British care a lot about.'

Like the man in the van?

Yes brits are so well mannered :/

I've had men in vans yell all sorts of shit at me over the years. Yes brits are so polite :/

Or are women held to higher standards?

Not waving thanks =worst crime ever op is a cunt
Yelling at woman on pedestrian crossing =not ideal but Whatevs sounds like you were asking for it what with being a cunt n all

The cats- therein lies the conundrum of whether to step into the crossing and risk being moan down, or not!

It's "mown," not "moan." "Mowed," is probably more correct.

I don't expect pedestrians to thank me if I stop at zebra crossing. I'm required to do so!! Why would they thank me? I'm with you, OP. Insanity.

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. )

ltk - exactly! I can't fathom why is it so hard for posters on here to get that.

I find the “you have to do it so I’m not being polite” attitude hard to fathom to be fair.

As has been pointed out lots of people have to do things whether by law or for their job but I would still always be polite. I think it’s odd that people deliberately wouldn’t be polite really.

It isn't mandatory for cars to stop at a zebra crossing until you're actually on it.

I still stop though.

I find the 'it's not mandatory so failing through is fine even if people are waiting to cross' way ruder than not waving, which although I do it myself, when I'm driving I neither notice or care if people I stop for do. I don't need thanking for not being a wanker.

Sailing through

Bloody phone!

Nothing like a bit of shit-flinging to kickstart a bank holiday weekend

OP your logic is not really stacking up but I'm not getting involved in your bunfight by picking it all apart.

Basically:

Traffic-light controlled crossing: very clear who has right of way, the lights are exerting control over it = nobody has to wave thank you

Zebra crossing: the pedestrian determines who has right of way by their act of stepping onto it. They have exerted control over drivers. In recognition of the fact that they could've chosen not to exert this control at the precise time of that driver approaching and could've waited for them to pass first, it's recognised as common courtesy to give a wave. People should not be shouted at if they choose not to follow the common courtesy norms.

It's not a new thing.

HTH.

But to accuse someone of being rude for not waving at a driver who stops - when everyone knows the driver has to stop anyway - is hardly on the same level of slamming a door in someone's face, is it?
Nobody has said it is.

Many people have pointed out that it's polite and courtesy to have manners and that includes saying thank you to people for doing things they 'have' to do.

it isn't mandatory for cars to stop at a zebra crossing until you're actually on it.
Very true, and yet many drivers are polite and courteous and will slow down and stop if they see someone waiting because it's a nice thing to do.
Using the OP's logic of 'i dont thank people for doing things i think they have to', I should continue driving over a zebra crossing because technically I don't have to stop for them unless they're on the road.
Of course I wouldn't take that approach, because taking the race to the bottom on manners and consideration isn't desirable

A little bit of kindness goes a long way. Perhaps go that extra mile and acknowledge the driver even if technically you don't have to.

How on earth is the OP and the driver being spoken about as though their conduct is in any way to be equated? Some posters here seem to be taking the view that not waving thank you is as rude as yelling verbal abuse at someone

FWIW I come from a country where cars generally do stop at zebra crossings and there was no expectation of a thank you any more than someone would thank a person for stopping at a red light, not because people are rude, but because stopping was seen as such ordinary driving behaviour. I think the rub lies in the Highway Code stating that pedestrians do not have right of way unless they are already on the crossing - though this is odd considering people can fail the driving test for driving through at a zebra crossing if people are waiting (I got told this by an examiner when I took the test several months ago as I very nearly didn't stop at one.)

Now I always do wave as it seems to be expected but I don't think it's 'rude' not to. Many times cars seem to expect a thank you as they've been rattling along and have to come to an abrupt stop, but really, as a driver shouldn't you be looking ahead and anticipating pedestrians may want to cross? That's how I try and drive anyway.

On the other hand some pedestrians do need to look where they're going and not just be glued to their phone at crossings and junctions and expect everyone else to pay attention when they don't.

Many drivers don't bother to stop so when a driver does stop it is manners to acknowledge that the driver has bothered to stop to let you cross. If a driver stops to let me cross I appreciate that so raise my hand to thank them as I have good manners.

I don't need thanking for not being a wanker.

Nobody seems to be taking this on board.

Saying that it's polite to wave doesn't alter the fact that a zebra crossing is there for the benefit of pedestrians who wish to cross the road.

And I've even been castigated for daring to set a foot into the crossing - which as has been acknowledged is necessary to "help" the driver determine that I'm intending to cross.

The fact remains that it is not on to verbally abuse a pedestrian did not wave at a driver who stopped at a zebra crossing. I am totally at anyone who suggests otherwise.

FWIW I will habitually:

• Put my hand up to apologise to a driver if I have inadvertently 'cut them up'
• Acknowledge drivers who give me right if way in a chicane when technically it is their right if way
• Hold doors open for people
• Thank waiters etc

I merely don't see the need to wave at drivers who stop at a pedestrian crossing - they have to stop anyway!

And people are saying it's NOT rude not to..... but it IS polite to do so - so er, so what does that make not waving then ? Rude surely, by simple definition.

I am baffled by the logic here.

I am a polite person and to suggest I am not, simply for not gratuitously and needlessly waving at drivers at pedestrian crossings is just bonkers.

but really, as a driver shouldn't you be looking ahead and anticipating pedestrians may want to cross? That's how I try and drive anyway.

Yes. Absolutely you should. Unless you inhabit this thread obviously.

people can fail the driving test for driving through at a zebra crossing if people are waiting (I got told this by an examiner when I took the test several months ago as I very nearly didn't stop at one.

This ^^

I thank everybody! Drivers stopping, postman, bus drivers, retail workers etc.
I do this because i always feel better for it. I do enjoy thanking people but I’m probably in the minority.
I even thank my reflection for not looking so shit that day!

I do give a little wave but not bothered by folks who don't give me one (as you say I stop cos I have too, not out of the kindness of my heart).

I once had a driver shout abuse at me for not saying thanks at a pelican crossing once (was crossing on a green Man) so there are plenty of rude arseholes out there.