Getting cross with the crossing patrol!

[myfaceismyown]

3 days a week I drive my adult DS to his special needs college in a neighbouring town,
I have to drive along a very long busy road that has 2 primary schools, one secondary school and therefore 3 crossing patrols. Normally not an issue and I wave back when they salute a "thank you".
Not today. today I nearly lost it. At the top of the hill, 3rd patrol, the lollipop lady was having a lovely natter with a couple of primary school parents, totally oblivious to a parent indicating to get onto the school road and totally blocking the traffic. This was 3pm so not chucking out time yet. Lollipopper jumped into action to stop the oncoming traffic to let a lone parent across. She then thanked me and I mimed a shrug as I was stuck behind the idiot parent blocking the road. I had a queue of cars stuck behind me as it is a busy thoughfair, and the only direct route to the next town.
So I am indicating to pull out round this blocking car and - hurrah! - there is a break in the oncoming traffic. Instantly nattering lollipop lady jumps into action to stick her pole out to allow another lone parent to cross. Ugh. I never do this but I jammed my hand on the horn, gave her a thumbs down and shouted "you beast", which she probably did not hear.
I did finally get round the idiot blocking person but was late fetching DS which caused him distress.
So AIBU to think that crossing patrol person should have paid as much attention to the traffic as they did to their chat?

@MiddleParking the pedestrian had literally just arrived on the other side of the road. I am sure she would not have been greatly inconvenienced by waiting one minute. The queue my side had been waiting nearly 20 minutes until there was a gap.... Fortunately one of the lovely lollipop ladies who has posted on this thread understands about priorities.

Just so we’re clear then, you were not asking whether you were being unreasonable, and you don’t like people saying you were unreasonable, and you’re going to keep juggling the exact intention of your beeping the horn, shouting and gesturing so that you feel ok about how you behaved.

Got it.

love AIBUs like this.

AIBU?

yes…

nope, no I wasn’t because blah blah blah.

@TitchyBiteroo I have just repeated the facts continuously. Some posters have invented a different , far more inflamatory narrative, which includes yourself, so I have just factually repeated what had happened. One beep, one shout, one gesture. Was it unreasonable behaviour? For me it was as I should never lose my temper. I wanted to know what others thought, or what they would have done in my situation and it has had a mixed result. Adding your extra details to the story, however imaginatively, does not really answer my question. But I do thank you for your input.

Of course it's the crossing patrol's fault, at least partly. She was holding up the traffic by chatting to other parents.
Not the OPs fault and I took would have been angry and emailing the school too..

It doesn’t take a pedestrian a minute to cross a road, unless you’ve left an important detail out of the story. It takes less time than that and you should have waited for that length of time without being told to. How long you’ve waited in traffic isn’t the pedestrian’s problem. You drove badly and behaved badly and you clearly think that’s okay so god knows why you posted 🤷🏻‍♀️

@MiddleParking if you read my last post you would comprehend why I posted. Your post is a fascinating insight into the inner workings of the human psyche. Most enlightening. You must be a very calm driver who never gets irritated however vexing the situation may be. Thank you for your input.

I would have waited a few mins then beeped the blocking car. Lollipop lady was an idiot but the fault lies with the blocking car who should have moved.

I don't understand how you could express such anger towards the lollipop lady but be so passive and "patient" towards the idiot driver who was in the wrong? Your post is very contradictory.

I applaud your use of “you beast!” as an insult @myfaceismyown regardless of the wrongs and rights of the situation 🤣👌🏻

@Babbahabba just waiting for a gap then got blocked by someone who was too busy chatting to realise what was happening. Nothing more to it really.

I agree 😂 OP, I don't know whether you're right or wrong but I love your style of writing...you have really made me laugh!

Thank you all for your contributions. In my original post my AIBU was "So AIBU to think that crossing patrol person should have paid as much attention to the traffic as they did to their chat?"
Apparently 63% of you think that the chat was more important. Ah, the wonders of Mumsnet!

The lollipop lady near us stops the traffic when any pedestrian is within 4 car lengths of the crossing so traffic has to wait while the pedestrian(s) walk to the crossing which can take several minutes if people are wrangling toddlers/prams as well as school children.

It's interesting that pp have said that SCP are not supposed to manage/be alert to traffic flow. The lollipop lady by us has obviously taken that to heart as there is frequently gridlock caused by ignoring the traffic flow. Obviously safer for the children with traffic at a stand still but not so much for the blood pressure of inpatient drivers.

How is it the responsibility of the crossing patrol that traffic is being held up by a driver stopping and blocking the road, exactly?

The job of the crossing patroller is to help people cross the road outside a school, not to manage traffic.

We are not there to manage traffic and are told not to gesture at drivers or use hand signals to direct them.

A lot of it is common sense and knowing your regulars, both people crossing and vehicles. A lot of the regular vehicles are aware I’m there and are more ready to stop. I don’t jump out in front of traffic.

if I’ve been stood out a while as a few have been crossing and it was safer for everyone that I stayed on the road I will ask pedestrians coming to wait while I let some vehicles past. It’s balancing safety, common sense and pedestrians/ vehicles.

I try to be courteous to all and don’t always get it right but ultimately it’s the pedestrians who are most vulnerable.