To treat certain pedestrians in this way?

[BosomForAPillow]

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?

yanbu, isn't that the whole point of jaywalking be illegal in America?

"So far"???

Eek!

Well I did want my first AIBU to be something to debate rather than a "to not want my baby to smoke crack" type of one.

x-post, sorry that was to Spam.

bosom

This thread now has a life of its own, I don't even think anyone would notice if you bbailed out now

FWIW your OP was mild, it was some other posters who thought it was all right to drive close to pedestrians, braking at the last minute that got my back up.

You got your wish bosom!

I always rush to cross the road when there's a break in the traffic, but you know how some people graciously kind of do the wave motion and smile at you (usually women tbh) well I hurry up and smile back and DASH across the road asap.

Sometimes fuckers behind a big wheel do that go on go on go on motion with their hand, and their face is screwed up with irritation. Their thoughts clear, they are tolerating you crossing their road. Well, I alwasy slow right down when somebody gives me the come on come on come on motion with their fat flappy paw. AIBU?

Your baby doesn't smoke crack? Eeeek, is that wrong then?

[grin ]

I am one of those who "thought it was all right to drive close to pedestrians, braking at the last minute"

However I would like to point out that braking is actually not an issue, because I don't get that close, I always steer round them, & I am doing about 10mph when it happens - having slowed right down because I know what I'm dealing with here (ie smartarses who know how not to be run over)

In areas where there are pedestrians all over the place I always drive extremely slowly (eg at 20 in 30 limits, regardless of what the driver behind thinks), & in general circs I wave pedestrians/cars across/in/out as appropriate. Slow old people, small children, mothers with buggies & others deserving of care & consideration get it from me. I do stop at zebra crossings.

Some of you green car hate guardian farmers' market on a bike teenagers are misunderstood gay eco-warriors (thanks, mrss & riven ) are missing the point a little here.

You aggressive car drivers should beware - one day someone might be aggressive back.

I'd completely forgotten until I checked back on this thread, but I did dent someone's van once. He used the fact the green man was showing for pedestrians and blocking traffic on the main road as a handy chance to shoot out of his drive - straight across the crossing. Missed me by inches. Nothing I could have done about it, he came from behind.

I happened to have a heavy bag of books on me, and reacted instinctively by swinging the bag at him. No time to think, it just happened.

Then saw he'd pulled up a few yards down the street and realised I had actually dented his ruddy van! He turned round and started yelling at me. I was so furious I actually yelled back at this great big muscle-bound bloke, using every combination of swear words I knew and he actually backed off.

Was feeling quite chuffed until I suddenly realised my mother was right by my side.

Do hope he got into lots of trouble for denting his works van. Or that he was self-employed and had to stump up £££££££ for the repair. Because he tried to kill me and everyone else on that crossing. (Which was right outside an old peoples' home, as it happens.)

I have no idea why but recently teenage boys round here started walking out into the middle of the road, and swaggering down the road.... actually walking down the middle of the road. Then when they had forced the car to stop they flicked the vicks and gobbed all over the car.

After the umpteenth time of this happening I'm afraid I just kept rolling - I was doing no more than walking pace, the car just rolling along, no accelleration.

They weren't expecting that.

So you ran into them at low speed, knickaz?

Let's just not let teenagers out, ever. The spirit of the Antichrist enters everyone at 13, remains until 20, and then is replaced with selective memory loss at whatever age you become a 'proper' grown up so you can promptly forget said teen years and any remotely rude/unpleasant/inappropriate/sulky/beliigerant/generally naughty activity you may have got up to. Then you can start slagging off the next generation of teens yourself. Good times all round.

I smashed a bus light once. The driver was blocking the entire crossing, which had railings around it to stop people from crossing anywhere else. I kicked at the bus half-heartedly and without planning it, managed to hit one of the lights on the side and smash it. Oops.

SomeGuy - while many a pedestrian isn't a match for someone driving past them, if you were in the wrong place, wrong time, and they looked to be scruffy teenagers, one could pull out a gun and do some real damage if they felt 'dissed' by a honk, or splash, or verbal no matter how fast you are going.

It could do more than just make a hole, should it hit your tank (lucky shot, perhaps).

I don't think many teenagers carry guns and can perform John Wayne-style antics on a speeding car.

Fortunately.

Depends on the area. Point is, that's just the type of person 'with attitude' who might deliberately go slow to annoy.

Doesn't need any major skill - if you could hit someone 15 metres away (and trying to stay behind cover) in a paintball game then imagine a target that is 4 times the area of a person, and may take up to 15 seconds to be 3 times the area. A car is a big target.

SGM - yes, can understand that having grown up in Canada it would be a bit scary here.

I have to say I found it really strange when I visited there, that stopping near a corner (to look at a map and find my bearings) the traffic would stop. (Of course I was oblivious of the local rules.)

I had to purposely get away from junctions just so I knew the drivers wouldn't be stopping for me to cross, when I had no wish to cross!

I certainly found most Canadians polite, and very welcoming, especially as I wasn't a "loudmouth Yank", who, apart from at retail outlets and restaurants, seem to only annoy them!

However there were young guys deciding to swear a lot, getting a few 'tut tuts' from other passengers on the bus.

Oh, and glad I was able to make a quick exit from a Montreal underground station when two gangs pulled knives (but my French is European and I didn't understand anything they were saying as it was clearly Canadian and slang combined).

Just seemed that getting out of their presence was best option, if I had opened my mouth and they heard English there's no knowing what the reaction might have been. I remember a very polite sign in French, with a curt (close to rude) English version underneath.

At least in Hull (opposite bank to Ottawa, for others on MN) the reaction to me speaking English was only that of noting I was from outside Canada, and giving me a warm welcome, despite not speaking much French, and when I did, one of much puzzlement at my accent!

If you are always in such a hurry that this makes you freak out, leave your home 5 minutes earlier..