Crossing the road when there’s not a green man

[JabbyMcJabFace16]

I’ve just had possibly the strangest interaction of my life and just need some opinions on it.

I was at a pretty busy junction that I cross everyday, twice a day. I know that between the first two sets of lights, there is a thirty second pause which is long enough for me to cross the road in. I went to step out during this pause when a woman stood next to me put her arm across me and said, quite pointedly “I don’t think so! We only cross when we see a green man, don’t we [child’s name]. She then held her arm across me until the green man came up.

I do understand that it’s important for parents to teach their children road safety, but I also know this junction so well and it’s absolutely freezing tonight. I was stood there for a good 3 minutes longer than I needed to be because this woman wouldn’t let me go.

AIBU to think this is just going too far?

I was thinking about this the other day - in a lot of countries jaywalking is illegal (car is king!) - are pedestrian death rates higher in the UK? I would think not as you are more aware of yourself when crossing without a light.

anyway, I would have asked her if she’s also taught him not to talk to strangers

I've had that happen to me and told the offending woman rather loudly to 'get your fucking hand off me'. Nice? No, not remotely, but nor is being an overbearing busybody, trying to parent random adults in a public street.