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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To treat certain pedestrians in this way?

171 replies

BosomForAPillow · 31/08/2009 19:59

You know when a pedestrian crosses in front of your car when they really don't have much time to do so (because you're driving towards that bit of road!), but instead of hurrying across, they strut/meander as if they have all the time in the world? I'm talking about teenagers usually, who seem to me to be doing this with "attitude" and just expect me to slow down/stop until they've ambled across.

Well, I've started spraying them with my windscreen wash.
AIBU?

OP posts:
differentID · 31/08/2009 20:00

yes, because I believe that's assault.

FabBakerGirlIsBack · 31/08/2009 20:01

YABU and silly.

Just because you are in a car doesn't give you any more rights over someone else who is already on the road.

LaurieFairyCake · 31/08/2009 20:01

Pedestrians have right of way at all times according to the Highway Code.

So you should probably just slow down and chill the fuck out.

Hassled · 31/08/2009 20:02

The windscreen wash out of the bottle or somehow from the car itself? If the former - a tad harsh. You were a teenager once. You probably meandered with attitude. If the latter, that's quite a trick.

AuntieMaggie · 31/08/2009 20:02

yes you are

cookielove · 31/08/2009 20:05

i don't think you are there are crossing areas for a reason it, and if you are gonna cross the roads where there is no crossing then you should at least peg it across the road, i can't imagine that a bit of windscreen wiper spray is really classed as assult? Really?

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 31/08/2009 20:06

Yes and an arse.

beanieb · 31/08/2009 20:06

Blimey!

hercules1 · 31/08/2009 20:08

I agree yabu and an arse.

sherby · 31/08/2009 20:10

lol YANBU at all

I wind down the window and shout THANK YOU at people who don't acknowledge that you have stopped for them

loving the windscreen wiper idea, assault lololol

notevenamousie · 31/08/2009 20:10

Give up your car for a week. Yes, really.

Then see if you still feel the same.

WorzselMummage · 31/08/2009 20:11

I do it too;)

BosomForAPillow · 31/08/2009 20:12

Well I used to just beep them but I thought this had the advantage of being quiet, so as not to disturb fellow road users...and the cocky strutter usually looks pretty pissed off.

I am teaching them a lesson in road safety at the same time.

OP posts:
Lio · 31/08/2009 20:14

Maybe they are teaching you a lesson? The one about the pedestrian having right of way all the time?

BosomForAPillow · 31/08/2009 20:15

Hmmm, I've never heard of pedestrians having the right of way all the time. So they could in theory just walk out without warning whenever they want and all drivers should just do an emergency stop and say, "Sorry, your right of way, do continue!"?

OP posts:
hercules1 · 31/08/2009 20:17

I think the right of way applies if they have stepped out on to the road before you turn which is the situation described I think in the op.

screamingabdab · 31/08/2009 20:17

Yep, cos funnily enough the alternative is killing them

Doodlez · 31/08/2009 20:18

BosomForAPillow - in a nutshell, YES!

I couldn't give two tugs of a dead dog's dick about the rights and wrongs of this - I think it's a great idea! Add a few drops of vile green food colouring to your screen wash resevoir - that'll learn 'em!

sherby · 31/08/2009 20:19

better than doing this lolol

Ponders · 31/08/2009 20:21

Oh YANBU - they piss me off enormously & I have teenagers of my own

Slow crossers are just being arsey, & anything you can do to get back at them, short of knocking them down, is a great idea (hooting at the last possible second is a great idea as it makes them jump, which is fun)

NB oooold people with sticks are exempt from this.

Where does the Highway Code say pedestrians have right of way in the middle of the road? Chapter & verse please

screamingabdab · 31/08/2009 20:22

sorry, my response was to OP questioning whether pedestrians have the right of way. In a nutshell, yes, I believe they do, galling as it seems, cos they are much smaller than a car and if you take the right of way then you may run them over.

I once had a man spitting at me (with his mouth) for having the audacity to stop him at a zebra. Fortunately, his window was most of the way up at the time, so he'd gobbed inside his own car

BosomForAPillow · 31/08/2009 20:23

hercules1 - I'm not turning anywhere, I'm driving down a straight road (probably at around 29mph) when this occurs.

Doodlez, that sounds a great idea...although not sure how clean my windscreen would be if I add green food colouring. Maybe there's a clear alternative, perhaps with an unfortunate smell?

OP posts:
TheDMshouldbeRivened · 31/08/2009 20:25

'Slow crossers are just being arsey, & anything you can do to get back at them, short of knocking them down, is a great idea (hooting at the last possible second is a great idea as it makes them jump, which is fun)'

some of us are a bit crap in the leg department you know. Not being slow deliberatly.
How can windscreen squirters squirt away from the car?

BosomForAPillow · 31/08/2009 20:27

Screamingabdab "spitting at me (with his mouth)" is vile, and I always stop at zebra crossings.

Do you think I am in a way spitting at pedestrians (with my washer jets)? I hadn't thought of it as on a par with spitting.

OP posts:
cookielove · 31/08/2009 20:28

thought i have a look

here

This is only when pedestrians have priority here -

At a junction. When crossing the road, look out for traffic turning into the road, especially from behind you. If you have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, you have priority and they should give way (see Rule 170).

But generally pedestrains should wait for traffic to go past before crossing as seen here -

If traffic is coming, let it pass. Look all around again and listen. Do not cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain that there is plenty of time. Remember, even if traffic is a long way off, it may be approaching very quickly.

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