Do you say thank you at zebra crossings?

[bottomsup12]

Is it unreasonable not to thank a driver who stopped? Even though they legally and should stop?

I know people will probably say "yes basic manners" etc. as a driver, I never expect a thank you, and I certainly would never ever get annoyed if someone didn't say thank you (its an ott reaction imo).

Long rationale ahead, to preempt expected backlash on this...

Putting forward the argument that:
A) they legally have to stop. Do you thank everyone for doing things they have to legally do anyway?
B) saying thank you to someone suggests they are doing you a favour, but are they doing you a favour?
C) do drivers thank pedestrians for waiting patiently at the zebra crossing?
D) pedestrians have right of way when crossing a side road on their straight path, so drivers ever thank pedestrians who wait?
E) the deference that a lot of motorheads think pedestrians (and cyclists for that matter) ought to show them is an irritating suggestion that they are somehow more important than other road users just because they have the more powerful mode of transport - when in fact the Highway Code suggests equal if not priority to other road users.

Yes, I thank drivers for stopping. But then I also thank automatic doors that open for me. 😆

“Thank you for paying enough attention not to plough your car into me at 60mph” 🤣

I always wave thanks, acknowledging that, despite legality, I've slightly inconvenienced them. I wave especially enthusiastically at a couple of zebra crossings near us that are really busy so a pain in the arse for drivers (they should be pelican crossings IMO, to do away with the near constant stream of pedestrians).

Yes I thank, or if I've got a child in each hand nod or otherwise acknowledge, costs nothing.

No I don't. I have quite strong feelings about not promoting 'car culture' where the presence of cars is considered more important than people.

I also make a point of putting a foot on the crossing because although drivers should stop for people waiting to cross, they must stop once you've started. Not running me over isn't doing me some great favour.

Yes I do at zebras but not pelicans. I feel like a red light means the car has to stop and they aren't doing me a favour.

I know technically cars have to stop at zebras but there isn't the shouty red light :)

I do. I’m also a massive hypocrite because if my dad complains because a pedestrian hasn’t thanked him, I lecture him on how they don’t actually owe him any gratitude.

@PandaCwtch can we be friends?!

Yes, I always say thank you by raising the palm of my hand towards the drivers who've stopped. I feel bad if I don't!

But when I am in a vehicle, I notice a lot of people don't bother to even acknowledge the stoppers.

Years ago I went to the launderette and had a heavy laundry bag in each hand, so couldn't give my customary thanks at a crossing. The driver leant out and swore at me. I am still slightly smarting at the unfairness of it!

I do say thanks. When I was younger I didn't have the confidence to give a little wave/smile, which is weird isn't it? My DC are all encouraged to nod.

I don’t because people aren’t stopping to be kind, they literally have to.

and it actually annoys me when drivers thank me for ‘letting’ them go at roundabouts. I’m giving way because it’s the law - just get on with the driving please!

I do, just a wave. Not sure why though, it's ingrained.

It doesn't cost nothing though? It perpetuates the idea that drivers are the lords of the road and that leads to angry sweary road rage at cyclists and pedestrians and less careful driving which ultimately kills in rare (but too many) circumstances.
You might think that's a push but to deny culture has any major impact is just not correct.

I give a wave if they've obviously slowed down for me. I don't if they're going quickly in the hope I won't cross til they've gone past, that tends to make me walk more sloooowly

Not always at zebra crossings, but in other places where not a designated crossing I do almost 100% of the time. Hoping that it will be repeated for someone who is not as quick to cross a road as me.

I always say thank you and like to have a thank you when I stop. Of course I legally just stop and without a thank you I'd not change my actions. But in almost all areas of life manners are not governed by law but rather by social expectations and politeness. I thank people for opening a door for me, for telling the barman I was there first, for apologising when they've bumped into me- it's just a thank you in exchange for common courtesy. I think of crossing thanks in the same league as these things.

No it's not weird! I didn't have the confidence to do that to sweary man either. A raised palm in their direction I could manage, but not more.

I do but only because it’s become a thing now. When I was a youngster it wasn’t the thing to say thank you and nobody did.

No, and I get annoyed when pedestrians thank me. I always avoid eye contact when I'm the driver so I can't be thanked.

Always thank drivers who stop in other places though.

Exactly. I sometimes do wave thanks because of the expectation, but think the expectation is a bit ridiculous. As you point out, there’s no thanks from drivers for pedestrians standing waiting patiently at a pedestrian crossing.

I don't maybe because I'm from other country where we have more zebra crosses and pediastrian have more rights than car drivers.

Generally no, I thank drivers who do me a favour. Stopping at a zebra crossing is the absolute bare minimum in not being a total arsehole on the road. By the time I get to the zebra crossing near DD’s school we’ve usually encountered so many bad drivers I don’t have the inclination left to pander to those who expect to be thanked for the privilege of not being mown down.

I do because it's customary here, for an easier life and and for spreading a bit of joy and happiness. It's not about being right it's about being polite.
The opposite of stopping isn't running you over as some ridiculed it, the opposite is not stopping, sometimes there no cameras or evidence and they dont all stop even if it's a legal requirement, I thank them for being law abiding drivers who respect the rules and were driving safely enough to notice me and stop and being good about sharing the road sensibly. It also acknowledges the disruption and inconvenience for them. I just think its soooo petty and maybe neurodiverse to be so nitpicky about it..it's not a sterile society with black and white rules there are other things like culture, psychology, community, being human rather than just hard facts.

I would also thank a cyclist who let me cross or a fellow pedestrian who moved out my way in the street. I don't expect to be thanked at a zebra crossing because I have to stop as a driver but I do thank as a pedestrian.

I also thank cars who hold back to let me pass even when I have right of way because I just think it's nice to be nice. There's so many arseholes on the road, it's nice when people aren't.

An issue I do face quite often as a pedestrian is cyclists blowing through red lights/hopping onto the pavement at lights. Often deliveroo/uber eats deliveries but they are pretty inconsiderate and unsafe road/pavement users

No, and I get annoyed when pedestrians thank me. I always avoid eye contact when I'm the driver so I can't be thanked.

Bit weird.