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.

No, if I’m waiting to cross a road and a driver stops to let me cross then they get a thank you - they didn’t have to stop and they did to be nice, so that’s reciprocated.
Traffic is required by law to stop at zebra crossings and pedestrians have priority. I’m not going to thank people for not breaking the law, same way as I don’t thank random strangers for not breaking into my home.
I don’t expect thanks from pedestrians when I stop at zebra crossings either.

Wow! How many roads do you have to cross?😂

There is no comparison whatsoever between not thanking drivers on a zebra crossing and your other examples.

OP, of course you don’t have to, but A. It shows good manners, B. A smile and a wave can cheer up someone who might be having a crap day, C. It’s one of those actions that “oils the wheels of civilised society”.
I once pulled right over for a motorcyclist so he could pass with more room, and he actually bowed to me! Made my day and still makes me smile, years later…

I always say thank you.
Equally, I say thank you to bus drivers, shop assistants and people who hold the door open for me.
It costs nothing.

I do say thank you

I don't expect people to say thank you to me, but I do appreciate it when they do

Always.

Wow! How many roads do you have to cross

I think perhaps her point was that everyone she passes is obeying lots of laws - why are we expected to thank someone for obeying one particular law? (especially one which can cause serious injury or death if broken). Do drivers thank other drivers for yielding at Give Way signs? No.
It's the power imbalance that makes this something other than a mere social nicety. It's akin to the poor man doffing his hat to the rider. Decent drivers shouldn't expect it, drivers who think they're doing the pedestrians a favour don't deserve thanks.

@ErrolTheDragon I was joking…

I automatically lift my hand in a thank you gesture, it costs absolutely nothing.

Yeah I usually give the driver a wave of thanks. As a driver I don't care whether people do it or not. As you say, it's the law to stop.

Yes usually give a wave.

I have a similar story- saw a group of cyclists coming towards me on a narrow country lane so pulled into a field gate to let them through rather than squeeze by. Lots of them gave me a wave, one lady blew me a kiss - made me smile all the way home!

I do, but I'm a thanker in general - people who hold a door open for you, bus drivers, cashiers in shops. I don't see why not to be honest, everyone likes to feel appreciated.

I don't drive myself but I note my DH does that driver acknowledgment signal of lifting one hand up from the steering wheel to acknowledge when another driver has either given way to him, or he has given way to them. It just seems like a courteous and pleasant gesture, an "alright mate" kind of thing? He's one of those nice drivers who let cars out in front at sticky junctions and the like, never mind stopping for pedestrians to cross. And they all too get the same hand lift gesture if they thank him.

It might not be wrong to not thank others for things they should be doing, but it's nice anyway, so why not? Doesn't hurt anyone and doesn't create entitlement. If someone is acting all entitled about road use, they likely do all the time already, in more areas than just using the road.

I acknowledge their stopping, usually with a nod or wave (I'm not royalty!).

I tend to gesticulate or shout at oblivious drivers who just ignore me standing at the crossing as the drive straight over it without showing down or even anticipating that someone might want to cross.

We have a couple of side roads near me with junctions you need to stop at to check the road you're joining. I note that often drivers won't indicate if there is no car behind them. As they are stationary, waiting to pull out, I will cross in front of them. One had a go at me as he was "turning left and then you stepped in front of me". I pointed out that as he wasn't indicating, I had no idea where he was going.
That wasn't a well-received comment.

I do and the driver often gives a hand wave back. It's friendly and I like it.

Yes I always say thank you, even though they have to stop it's just nice to show a bit of gratitude and be nice.

Apparently it is a very British thing to do 🤣

I'm rarely ever a pedestrian, but when i am, i wouldn't dream of using a zebra crossing without saying thank you. It's not in my nature and upbringing.

Equally, as a driver i hate pedestrians who just walk out and don't look and check cars are slowing down to stop for them. I always stop, but some don't. I don't care that "its in the Highway code" you're the only person responsible for your safety crossing roads, so make sure it's safe!

No I never thought of doing that on a zebra crossing.

I do however when I am driving and someone thanks me the kids even now say it with me 'no need to thank me its a legal requirement not to kill you' so while I do it myself it annoys me when others do it!

I'm rarely a pedestrian but if I have to I am a bag of nerves and could never thank anyone. It takes all of my concentration to walk and get across the crossing, I talk myself through what I'm doing and wouldn't be able to give headspace to thanking someone for stopping when they are supposed to

The “crossing” is the striped area on the road AND the special paving both sides so someone standing on the paving is “on the crossing” even if they’re not in the road!

Yes I usually do it but wouldn't expect other people to or get pissed off if they didn't.

Thinking about it, I usually give thanks to the person on my right as I cross but not the left, unless there's nobody on the right, in which case I thank the person on the left.

Oddly I do thank people for stopping at zebra crossings, but not pelican crossings. Even though they have to stop at both.

So if you’re stood waiting at a zebra crossing and a driver stops to let you cross you don’t say thank you but you do if you’re stood waiting to cross elsewhere? Not sure I get the logic there, I understand if you’re already on the crossing though.