Were we wrong to cross the road in this way?

[UndertheCedartree]

I was taking my DD to school this morning. There is a junction where we need to cross over the road in front then cross over the road to the left. Lots of families including us cross diagonally as it is quicker than crossing both separately.

We were late this morning so there were no other families around. We were crossing the junction and a few seconds before we got onto the pavement a car sounds it's horn loudly at us (scaring poor DD) then came round the corner and started shouting and pointing at us. I just ignored the driver as they were clearly very angry so no point in trying to have a civil conversation.

I always thought if a pedestrian was crossing a road then a car needs to give way to them. Or are we wrong to cross diagonally?

Yes, this would be good.

Ok. Yes, the lights are green at the same time.

No, I'm just autistic.

No, I'm just an observer. I see people cross diagonally at all these type of crossings. I think a way to stop people doing it would be to allow enough time to cross both roads. What do you think would stop people doing it?

The driver was stationary at the lights. I starting crossing when it was green.

Your assumption is wrong then.

I'm pretty sure I have said she understands many times, I think she will be fine like her brother when walking alone but at the moment she doesn't go out alone.

DC can't judge speed in the same way adults can. For example I am able to cross a road without using a crossing but my DD knows not to.

The driver was stationary so it wasn't a 'near miss' unless there's something I've misunderstood. I have taught her safe crossing practices.

You were silly to cross diagonally, frustrating though it is to have to wait twice. Any car driver that beeps aggressively at a primary aged kid because of a two second delay to their journey (even if they think they're beeping at the "naughty" parents) really needs to take a long look at themselves in the mirror though. Too many drivers think they own the bloody road.

The car was sitting at the red lights as we came on to the 2nd crossing. As we were almost over the lights started to change and it was then that the car sounded it's horn.

Sorry I can't really follow that. If I'm honest the whole 'lead by example' means adults would pretend to act a certain way, but I would know they didn't always do that, they just did it when they thought their DC was watching. So teachers would say 'don't smoke' etc, but they were puffing away when you weren't there. It made me distrust them as I thought they were dishonest. My DC know I don't always cross the roads in the same way I have taught them to and they understand why. It works for us.

Do you mean if they all went through a red light?

So she is safe when she goes out on her own. I didn't realise you couldn't cross diagonally when all the crossings have green men. I have said I won't do it anymore.

If the green man is on for all 4 crossings how come the driver came around the corner if the lights were on red?

She either ran a red light and SWBU or you were crossing when the green man was unlit and YWBU.

But whether it’s in the Highway Code or not, anyone who walks across a diagonal is taking a risk. And as much as you protest you are teaching your child bad habits. Lead by example.

Are you saying because I am autistic my brain hasn't fully developed? No, we just see things differently. Different things work for you if you are autistic, it doesn't make it a bad practice. Would it be a 'good' practice if I did the same as works for your child but doesn't work for mine?

Some crossings do barely give you time to cross just the one road, that is true. And yes, running across a road can be dangerous.

I do teach my DC to cross the road safely. Apparently, I'm doing it wrong and I should be doing the more usual 'lead by example'. So it's interesting that most kids cross dangerously. Maybe people should try my way?

I have the same thing and always cross then cross again, never diagonally. Its dangerous.

Yes and she understands why. I'm confused by what you mean. Pedestrians have to wait for the green man often at more than one crossing to get across the same junction as cars, and even then sometimes cars block the way so you can't get across. Pedestrians wait longer than cars generally speaking, so why can't a car have the patience to wait for someone to finish crossing?

You obviously think your way of thinking is 'correct' but we are not all the same. Why would I do something my mum has said is dangerous because of my age, just because my mum does it? Have you ever had a glass of wine in front of your child? Do they now think it is ok for them to drink because mum does? Your way makes no sense to me. Let's just agree to disagree.

But no she was scared because the car loudly sounded their horn. I did not force the car to sound their horn, nor should they have. Drivers sound their horns all the time because they are inpatient or have rage about something. None of that is necessary.

I agree. That is what the horn is there for not to reprimand people not doing what you think they should be.

Sounding your horn loudly and inappropriately and then shouting and pointing while driving is definitely road rage. It"s funny that people think this driver was so concerned about safety they beeped us, while then driving along a road shouting and pointing at us. Safety seemed to go out the window at this point?

That was interesting, thank you.

Smash into us? They were stationary.