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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Were we wrong to cross the road in this way?

382 replies

UndertheCedartree · 30/06/2022 11:55

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?

OP posts:
ABBAsnumberonefan · 30/06/2022 13:17

YABU the crossings are there for a reason. They probs thought you were going to the crossing and last moment realised you weren’t!

ABBAsnumberonefan · 30/06/2022 13:19

Your beeping comment is a bit of a moot point - that’s like asking why do drivers beep when people cut them off etc??

OneTC · 30/06/2022 13:19

UndertheCedartree · 30/06/2022 13:13

I hope this is clear. The arrows show the 2 ways you can cross. If you cross the 2 roads separately you do have to wait for the lights again for the second road. Diagonally you can get across or very almost across before the lights change.

If it's not a marked diagonal crossing then YABU.

I would have only tutted and rolled my eyes at you though

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 30/06/2022 13:19

SmileyPiuPiu · 30/06/2022 12:26

Absolutely unacceptable for the driver to be shouting at you but you are being incredibly unreasonable crossing the road like that with a child when two crossings have been provided. Complete waste of money trying to keep people safe if they just ignore it.

I would agree if it wasn't possible to cross in the time given but it is. Maybe if they don't want people to cross diagonally they should allow enough time for pedestrians to cross both roads so they can get on with their journey?

OP posts:
Rats21 · 30/06/2022 13:20

Is this a wind up? Surely you know you crossed the road incorrectly and that’s why the driver was angry?

Driver was angry because you did something stupid. 🤷‍♀️

HangOnToYourself · 30/06/2022 13:21

They were unreasonable to shout at you but if it's a light controlled crossing it does sound dangerous of you to cross as cars will be focused on checking the lights and the road should be clear for them. Obviously the driver needs to be vigilant but I can understand them being frustrated as you could have caused an accident

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 30/06/2022 13:21

ComDummings · 30/06/2022 12:28

It doesn’t matter what anyone else should or shouldn’t do - you have a child with you and you want them to learn to look out for their own safety, so you should be teaching them that. Yeah, they shouldn’t have shouted but you should have crossed properly.

As, I've said I've already taught that. That is not the issue here. I'm asking technically as a pedestrian are you allowed to cross diagonally or is it against the highway code?

OP posts:
tomatopsste · 30/06/2022 13:21

I would agree if it wasn't possible to cross in the time given but it is. Maybe if they don't want people to cross diagonally they should allow enough time for pedestrians to cross both roads so they can get on with their journey?

Maybe you should leave sufficient time to wait for the second crossing? Your time is not more precious than car drivers.

OneTC · 30/06/2022 13:22

It's against the highway code

Sirius3030 · 30/06/2022 13:22

Q. Is it wrong to cross a road diagonally?
Normal A. Yes, it’s quite dangerous.
Mumsnet A. I bet it was a man blowing his horn.
Sigh.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 30/06/2022 13:22

Fink · 30/06/2022 12:33

If it has traffic lights and they're timed together so that pedestrians have a green man for all of the 4 roads at the same time, then YWNBU to cross diagonally. If it has no lights or the lights are timed so that you don't have a green man on all 4 at once then YWBU, that's dangerous with a small child. I'd probably risk it as an adult, but I wouldn't do it with a child.

Yes, a green Man for all roads at the same time.

OP posts:
LetitiaLeghorn · 30/06/2022 13:24

@GrootUnforgiven
Even if the road was clear and everyone else would go over before the green man, I'd stand there telling dd she should wait for the green man and probably sounded like a twat to everyone else

You don't sound like a twat at all. Occasionally I see a parent teaching their child that so I wait with them until the parent indicates it's OK to cross (even though I'm cursing internally and my feet are itching to go! 😂 )
I think it shows great parenting. Sorry about what happened to your brother.

Rosebel · 30/06/2022 13:25

I can't quite understand where the car was. They blasted the horn then came round the corner? How did they see you before going round the corner?
I'm quite tired though so may have misunderstood?

HangOnToYourself · 30/06/2022 13:26

UndertheCedartree · 30/06/2022 13:22

Yes, a green Man for all roads at the same time.

Show quote history

In that case if someone early hit you it means there is also not enough time to cross diagonally or this wouldnt have happened. As pp said the onus is on you to leave enough time for your journey whether that be on foot or.in a car. As a driver its frustrating when you have been queuing and the lights change but only give enough time.for the first 3 cars to get out and you are number 4. It doesnt mean that you should just plough through the red lights because you dont think it gives you long enough.

theotherfossilsister · 30/06/2022 13:28

Green man for all roads then I think it's absolutely ok to cross diagonally but I think some drivers are twats who just drive at people.

Muezza · 30/06/2022 13:34

If I was a driver I would be looking out for people crossing the roads straight across, so someone crossing diagonally would blindside me as it would be unexpected.

Also, if someone was crossing on the marked crossing and needed extra time after the green man to finish crossing, its and expected thing, but if someone appears diagonally, still crossing after the green man is gone I wouldnt be expecting that as I might not have spotted you starting your crossing.

I wouldn't have yelled and beeped, but probably would have thought you were being stupid.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 30/06/2022 13:37

theotherfossilsister · 30/06/2022 13:28

Green man for all roads then I think it's absolutely ok to cross diagonally but I think some drivers are twats who just drive at people.

If it was green man on all that means the driver run a red light. If that was the case op would have said that, she was obviously crossing when the green man was red and the traffic light was green!

LetitiaLeghorn · 30/06/2022 13:37

I didn't really understand what you meant but I've just seen your diagram. You can't do that! You can't cross the road diagonally. It's the highway code. And it must be a,significant junction to have 4 set ofboedestrian crossings. I'd be annoyed if I were the driver too. And I'd probably toot you, as well. The driver isn't responsible for scaring your daughter. You're unreasonable behaviour is.

JauntyJinty · 30/06/2022 13:37

Meraas · 30/06/2022 11:58

I think they should have given you way:

At a junction, drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders and cyclists should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.

Let me guess, he was a man? I've been called a cunt by men for daring to cross a road.

"a road into which or from which you are turning."

So if the driver was contuning stright this doesn't apply.

If they were driving stright through a green light and OP dragged a kid out in front of them I can see why they were upset!

LetitiaLeghorn · 30/06/2022 13:39

theotherfossilsister · 30/06/2022 13:28

Green man for all roads then I think it's absolutely ok to cross diagonally but I think some drivers are twats who just drive at people.

The highway code says you cannot cross a road diagonally. No mention of exceptions.

Jalepenojello · 30/06/2022 13:41

You are crossing dangerously. Did the car pass through a red light? Because if not then it appears there was not enough time for you to cross diagonally either and you shouldn’t have been on the road.

Chocolatehamper · 30/06/2022 13:42

"I'm asking technically as a pedestrian are you allowed to cross diagonally or is it against the highway code?"

The Highway Code
Rules for pedestrians (1 to 35)

  1. Crossing the road (7 to 17)
E. When it is safe, go straight across the road – do not run. Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross, in case there is any traffic you did not see, or in case other traffic appears suddenly. Look out for cyclists and motorcyclists travelling between lanes of traffic. Do not walk diagonally across the road.

You were being unreasonable.

Staffy1 · 30/06/2022 13:42

I was hoping this was going to be a chicken joke.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 30/06/2022 13:43

theotherfossilsister · 30/06/2022 13:28

Green man for all roads then I think it's absolutely ok to cross diagonally but I think some drivers are twats who just drive at people.

And where on earth do you live where drivers deliberately drive at people? It sounds rough, I'd be looking to move if I were You. Hmm

bcc89 · 30/06/2022 13:45

It doesn't matter if "technically as a pedestrian are you allowed to cross diagonally", you cross at the crossings for a reason with your child.
It doesn't matter that she's 10 and knows the difference between crossing with an adult and crossing alone, you cross at crossings for a reason with your child.

I would rather be 5 minutes late than take any risks with my child at all. Get up ten minutes earlier and teach her to always cross at the crossing.

You would never forgive yourself if she learned bad habits about crossing roads and got hit by a car, whether on that road or any other, because she knows "mum always nips across like this".