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AIBU?

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Original poster

Motorists shouldn't be in such a hurry!!

142 replies

UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 13:35

Why are many car users always in such a hurry?

I was crossing a road on a green man today and wasn't quite across when the lights turned to green. The car had to wait an extra 10 seconds! She started beeping me and then shouting and swearing at me.

And this isn't the first time I've had similar experiences.

OP posts:
Daftasabroom · 03/08/2023 17:10

@saltinesandcoffeecups flashing amber also means wait if there is someone crossing or about to cross. Even if the light is green you must still wait for the road ahead to be clear and safe to proceed.

Tilllly · 03/08/2023 17:13

www.westyorkshire.police.uk/news-appeals/family-pay-tribute-young-girl-who-died-after-fatal-road-traffic-collision-halifax

Pedestrians have right of way
Anyone driving should be aware of pedestrians and be courteous

That's it.

Daftasabroom · 03/08/2023 17:14

onefinemess · 03/08/2023 14:11

If you took ten seconds to cross the road, then you were either being deliberately obstructive or you can't move fast enough to use the crossing points safely.

Roads are for vehicles. Footpaths are for pedestrians. If you must cross the road, then you should be mindful of traffic. It doesn't matter what the highway code says. Common sense should tell you that you don't walk in front of vehicles.

Who are you to say how much of a hurry people should be in?

I would say that cyclists shouldn't be in such a hurry, always breaking red lights and on pavements at high speed.

Or that pedestrians shouldn't be so slow.

Roads are for vehicles.

If you're that ignorant you certainly shouldn't be on the road. Did you actually pass a driving test?

Daftasabroom · 03/08/2023 17:19

@onefinemess It doesn't matter what the highway code says

Are you that selective in all laws? Would I be able to justify poking your eyes out on the basis "I know what the lae says but it doesn't matter and mess is a dangerous driver"?

Daftasabroom · 03/08/2023 17:22

@onefinemess It's just the arrogance of some people who think they have the right to obstruct others.

Fuck me you nailed it there!

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 17:25

onefinemess · 03/08/2023 14:31

As I said, ego is what gets people injured.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Or else there you'll be, lying on the roadside, with a broken spine. But obviously the "fact" that you were "right" will be of great comfort to you as you live out your days with severe injuries, all because your ego just wouldn't let you wait for the traffic to pass.

Show quote history

So noone can cross a road on a crossing if there happens to be cars there against they just decide they'll not follow the highway code after all and try and move people down. And that is the pedestrian's fault!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 17:26

situationalwashing · 03/08/2023 14:31

There's some shocking ableism on this thread.

I'm disabled, my walking is slow. I start crossing on the green man and on a bad day I could definitely keep the drivers back as I won't be across by the time the lights change.

What am I expected to do?

I get beeped at and revved at on a regular basis and it's horrible.

It's so intimidating isn't it? I sympathise.

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 17:31

Squishedstormtrooper · 03/08/2023 14:26

I think it’s because everyone has to commute more now. People being on the road for over an hour each way, either side of a long day at work is bound to make people stressed. Traffic is awful too (I’m in a northern city and half the roads in and out have been dug up for half a year). So people running late to picking up their kids or just looking forward to getting home and having a cup of tea makes them impatient because they have less and less time to themselves.

10 seconds isn’t a lot and I there’s no excuse for the abuse but combine that with being stuck on the motorway in traffic, then sat at temporary traffic lights for ages, then your almost home and having to sit with a green light with some woman slowly walking in front of your car…

But equally pedestrians are held up from getting to pick up their children etc. by having to wait at crossings. Sometimes not able to cross as a car is stopped on the crossing, cars getting in the way on a School Street etc. We all have frustrations!

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 17:34

onefinemess · 03/08/2023 14:27

As I said, if you are unable to use the roads safely, then you need to consider using transport.

Your ego does not give you the right to deliberately obstruct motorists.

Show quote history

How was I deliberately obstructing a motorist by crossing on a pelican crossing as per the highway code??

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 17:35

Sigmama · 03/08/2023 14:29

Onefinemess, cars have been obstructing everyone else for the last 50 years, dominating the roads, choking our highways, the arrogance and entitlement of drivers is astonishing

Agree

OP posts:
LakieLady · 03/08/2023 17:39

Sigmama · 03/08/2023 14:29

Onefinemess, cars have been obstructing everyone else for the last 50 years, dominating the roads, choking our highways, the arrogance and entitlement of drivers is astonishing

I agree about the entitlement and arrogance of drivers, even though I'm a driver myself.

I've been driving for 49 years, and the level of courtesy and consideration on the roads has dropped massively in that time. I was behind a driver who was beeping at someone on a horse the other day. What an utter arse.

CoffeeCantata · 03/08/2023 17:40

Onefineness
Pedestrians and cyclists DO NOT belong on the roads.

Roads are for vehicles.

My driving instructor told me 'Pedestrians have right of way...everywhere' and what he meant by that was - you as a driver are a killing machine; they are not. Therefore the onus is on you in your car to be mindful of pedestrians wherever they might be, whether you like it or not.

Onefineness - I'm picturing you as an 18th century French aristocrat in a barouche landau, ordering your coachman to run down the peasantry. Is this a fair picture?

You assert that the Highway Code doesn't matter. Have you told the DVLA this? Or the police? I'm sure they'd be interested to hear your views.

I've got to break it to you that yes, it does. It's the law. You can't ignore the bits you don't like, sorry.

Oh, and roads are actually for everyone to use, not just motorists. Someone has been having you on!

gogomoto · 03/08/2023 17:41

The only time I get annoyed is when people start crossing slowly after the Green man is flashing. If you know you are slow for whatever reason you shouldn't start crossing at that point. If you start crossing when it's solid green and it takes you longer fair enough, we need to be patient

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 17:41

Elleherd · 03/08/2023 14:51

No one should be harassing pedestrians.

It's really simple, the most easily squished something is, the more tolerance is required towards sharing space with it regardless of how it's behaving. Random creatures, pedestrians, horses, bicycles, e-scooters, deliveroo scooters, motorbikes, all need space and tolerance regardless. The bigger and heavier the vehicle I'm driving, the squishier other things potentially get.

I may mutter all sorts under my breathe, but common sense means letting pedestrians over including when they're not at crossings and stuck in the road.

That attitude however is born from I have a vehicle, I can always make up the time. It used to work out, it no longer does.

I've just been caught doing 25 in a 20 zone in London and have been reflecting on why I didn't spot the camera, because I know it's there.

One of the reasons is that the attempt to get us all to drive at 20mph, along with reducing parking, LTN's making so much one way, false bottle necks on major routes creating one car lane only, etc has had a really big impact on how long every journey takes and we are often running out of time no matter when we start out.
I'm disabled unable to access public transport, but a long time international driver.
The day I got caught, I'd been blindsided by a non working disabled lift, treated poorly for being late because of it, then made to leave via a rear exit that made it really hard to get back to my vehicle. I took it.
Knock on effect hit the next port of call where it was impossible to park anywhere near, thanks to new measures. Further delayed and in pain after that one, but took it.
En route to the next one, three men in a van decided I must be a particular religion and needed harassing by cutting me up and crawling along shouting abuse. No choice but to take it.
Trying to get to next appointment now nearly two hours of schedule, I failed to notice I'd fallen into the same speed as the car ahead of me, because I was just trying to get where I needed to be without being had any further go at.
I'd swapped concentrating on driving, for concentrating on surviving.

So much stress. London's been made inefficient and miserable to travel in for political gain, not for the people. People are now turning on each other.

That does all sound very frustrating and not set up for mobility issues.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 03/08/2023 17:44

Unfortunately there is a belief held by too many that there is a 'war on the motorist' and so anyone who holds up a car driver is the devil incarnate. Read any anti-cycling thread and the hysteria about the ULEZ expansion as an example.

Added to the fact that some people are always in a hurry because they lack the ability to be on time and/or to plan sufficient time for any journey. Part of the reason for parents not walking half a mile to take a child to school and back home again, but getting in their car.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 18:03

BlossomCloud · 03/08/2023 16:03

These people value their time above others lives

Yes. And as someone else has said, without thinking how much their own lives would be ruined too.

My first boyfriend died when we were 19. He was a pedestrian waiting on the pavement to cross. He lost his life. So many of his friends and family will never recover from their loss and trauma (myself included). He was amazing, full of joy for life and golden hearted. Kind to everyone. A real loss to the world

However, I don't doubt the driver's life was also wrecked. Imagine living with that on your conscience forever, just because you were in a bit of a rush (doing 40 in a 30)

I'm so sorry to hear that. My cousin was killed by a speeding driver.

OP posts:
Kpo58 · 03/08/2023 18:08

StaySpicy · 03/08/2023 13:43

YANBU about drivers needing to slow down, but unless you have a physical impediment it shouldn't take longer to cross the road than 10 seconds. So I'm not sure why the car had to wait an additional ten seconds after their light had gone green. Unless I've misunderstood your OP?

Not all crossings give the same amount of time to cross. I've been on some where you would of had to been an athlete running to cross it before it went red. Some then make you stuck on an island in the middle of the road for at least 5 mins before they even bother thinking about turning green for pedestrians again. Some combine both annoyances.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 18:08

saltinesandcoffeecups · 03/08/2023 16:05

Maybe you should all direct your anger to your councils and not drivers.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/24/extend-green-man-crossing-times-cities-older-people

It doesn't matter how long a green man is on, a driver can't go until it is safe to do so, which it clearly isn't if a pedestrian is still crossing. Aggression from drivers to pedestrians doing nothing wrong is not acceptable.

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 03/08/2023 18:08

We have a green man crossing at a busy crossroads nearby. The green man is on for 5 seconds. I have counted it and timed it with my phone several times. It is terrifying.

BlossomCloud · 03/08/2023 18:09

UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 18:03

I'm so sorry to hear that. My cousin was killed by a speeding driver.

Show quote history

I'm so sorry Flowers

So many people seem to forget they are in charge of a machine that has the potential to kill if you make the smallest error

BlossomCloud · 03/08/2023 18:10

LlynTegid · 03/08/2023 17:44

Unfortunately there is a belief held by too many that there is a 'war on the motorist' and so anyone who holds up a car driver is the devil incarnate. Read any anti-cycling thread and the hysteria about the ULEZ expansion as an example.

Added to the fact that some people are always in a hurry because they lack the ability to be on time and/or to plan sufficient time for any journey. Part of the reason for parents not walking half a mile to take a child to school and back home again, but getting in their car.

I can't understand the parents who live within a mile of the school yet drive and get to school nearly an hour early just to park as near as possible to the school Hmm

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 18:11

enchantedsquirrelwood · 03/08/2023 16:12

Pavements are for pedestrians.

Cycle tracks are for cyclists

My goodness if only. Every time I go out there is a car or van parked on a pavement somewhere.

And if I go for a cycle ride along the cycle track that was built to provide a safe cycle route, there will be people strolling along it with off-lead dogs and dogs on extendable leads or family groups blocking the entire thing off.

But roads are not just for drivers. They are also for horses, bikes and tractors (and pedestrians if no pavements available).

My daughter's school is on a School Street and if they don't have people to operate physical barriers to stop cars driving down it, down it they drive and some even start doing 3 point turns!!

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 03/08/2023 18:12

Danikm151 · 03/08/2023 16:48

It’s about 6-7 seconds atm and there’s talk of increasing that time.

drivers are already getting places quicker than a pedestrian- they need to chill a bit.

I always think that too!

OP posts:
BlossomCloud · 03/08/2023 18:13

Sigmama · 03/08/2023 18:11

https://www.politico.eu/article/pontevedra-city-pioneer-europe-car-free-future/
This is what we should be aiming for, cars are a menace

I agree. (And I am fairly dependent on my car due to disability, but would happily use a wheelchair/scooter instead if places were well designed -at the moment cars parked on pavements make them an impossibility near us)