To think cars just don’t stop for pedestrians like they used to?

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There’s a busy road near my house. No pelican crossing but zebra crossing in place on both sides of the road which has a little island bit in the middle.

Used to be able to cross just fine!!! Now it’s a neverending battle to get across and end up waiting in the middle bit like a dork for minutes as no car will let me across! It’s never stop/start either as I could just go across then but always just car after car flying down the road and barely anyone stops any more.

I’ve noticed it in other areas too, like people seem to not say thank you when you hold the door open, they barge past without saying excuse me.

is it just me or are people just generally getting ruder? It took me EIGHT minutes to cross the road this morning as no one would bloody stop!!

I both stop for pedestrians as a driver and have been stopped for when I'm on foot. But its annoying to stop for a pedestrian only for then to wave you to carry on. (I don't mind if they are slow crossing because ds is disabled so we are not quick ourselves.)

If you are turning on to another road the pedestrian has right of way- high way code 2022 change ,so maybe that's why you get a finger as it's their right of way maybe ?

I do this because many are paying attention to me but not the cars coming in the opposite direction especially in areas where I know visibility is an issue due to people not bothering to trim their hedges.

@Nothingfree oh no, I'm talking about 40mph dual carriageways, full on traffic.

Yes this! A normal errand involves about three emergency stops. Because if they pull out and you go into the back of them, it's your problem.

Ignoring the sexism though.

I take a step onto the road at zebra and it a car is racing towards me with no obvious intention of stopping they have to slam brakes on.
The other day a driver yelled out of her window "You nearly hit my car.!"
"Your car nearly hit me!" I yelled back and flounced across the road, and waved to the driver on the other side who had stopped.
I'm probably stupid sometimes but I'm at that stage of life I don't really care.

I’ve noticed the opposite- that pedestrians dart out without warning into traffic to cross the road when there is a designated zebra crossing literally 100 yards down the road! To me it seems like laziness that they can’t be arsed to walk to it. I’ve had to brake suddenly a few times with pedestrians doing this and they wave a half hearted apology as they’re doing it. It’s so bloody dangerous

No idea why my post included that random gif btw 😂

I live in Berks and find the same as OP, people don’t stop at crossings half the time and literally never let you have your right of way to cross side roads when they are turning in

"more women on the road now" women have been driving for some time now, what decades does your sexist hypothesis span??

But in all fairness it's probably more in line with safety as you shouldn't really signal for a pedestrian to cross in case another car pulls out of nowhere and knocks them down.

Op was on a zebra crossing. Cars are supposed to stop.

It's mostly Audis and Mercs that drive thoughtlessly where I am.

They are tits then 😂

In Jersey here and it's common for traffic to stop and let a pedestrian cross even when there's no official crossing, if they're obviously waiting to cross. Never have to wait very long to be let out of a junction either, we're ever so polite probably because we barely ever get over 20mph in the first place.

To add to the sexism, it's usually young women too! Boy racers seem to think, aw poor old soul, just like my mum, but young women don't even give me a glance as they force their way past.

YANBU. Driving standard have deteriorated. Most driver don’t seem to have learnt the new high way code where you have to give way to pedestrians if they’ve started crossing the road

I'm going by over my lifespan, but I'm quite old! It's still not equal in the UK, there are still more men with licences, but the gap is quite small now in comparison to when I was young.

An elderly relative of mine was hit on a zebra crossing, and it happened after someone in a car signalled them across. Another car was speeding, came up on the other lane of the carriageway and ran into them. So I know cars are supposed to stop, but I personally wouldn't put my faith in what drivers are supposed to be doing!

Agree about the Audis and Mercs, though. And I'll add BMWs to that too!

I've not noticed it's either men or women not stopping for pedestrians or cyclists or cars with right of way. I've also had people beeping at me for giving way to ambulances and at traffic lights (that are red for me).

I agree again. The lads/men with the kitted up cars blasting music, with their pop pop exhausts often with a cloud of candy floss vape tend to stop before I’m even at the crossed just heading towards it.

In fact even the dreaded BMWs and mercs with men drivers stop and smile you across. A fucking fiat driven by Louise with the good hair and tan nearly took a school mum out today.

So I know cars are supposed to stop, but I personally wouldn't put my faith in what drivers are supposed to be doing!

Exactly. My trust in drivers goes as far as looking both ways when crossing a one-way street.

I’ve noticed it happening more - abit specific and not to point the finger (as it’s obviously not all) but I’ve found it’s usually older men (60s/70s) who don’t stop.

I wait till cars have actually stopped before I cross so no idea how drivers just ‘miss’ us.

The amount of times people who have slammed on their breaks too, that’s abit worrying. Do they really not see the zebra crossing or people waiting? They could do with other a refresh driving test…

I haven't noticed this at all. Same as always here.

Of course the pedestrian has right of way on the pavement. However if a driver didn't see the pedestrian walking across their drive and hit them, it's the pedestrian that's going to get hurt. So moral indignation about who has right of way isn't much use to you then

But the driver won't hit the pedestrian, because they are well aware that they are in charge of a two tonne metal box on wheels and are crossing a pavement that pedestrians might be using, so the driver needs to proceed with extreme care.

My trust in drivers goes as far as looking both ways when crossing a one-way street

Indeed. Also, cyclists often go the wrong way up one way streets (often lawfully) so you need to check both ways anyway.

it’s usually older men (60s/70s) who don’t stop

also the age group where the couples are walking along pavement hogging and won't let go hands.

I always stop, in fact if I'm a pedestrian and see any person finding difficulty crossing any road in an appropriate place, I will stand in the road and stop traffic to enable them to do so.

You want to get yourself a baby in a buggy- I've been amazed how many people stop to let me cross the road since I've had my daughter! And hold doors open for me!