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Original poster

Someone tried to run us over on a crossing

41 replies

PinkBump2022 · 07/08/2022 21:51

We are on holiday in USA so I assume rules are different than from where I live in U.K. we were on the crossing as were a bunch of other people but everyone else was Spanish, the driver let the Spanish people who were Infront of us cross and we were behind them be then attempted to run us over we had tk
jump out of his way!! My partner then began shouting at him as I’m heavily pregnant but even if I wasn’t how terrible this is, and he just shook his head like he didn’t care.

are laws / rules in USA different?
in the U.K. a crossing is where people cross the road, if anyone is on the crossing or waiting to cross then you have to stop and let them cross, they have right of way. We waited at the crossing until the cars stopped but it’s like this man only wanted to let people of his own over the road and not us.

what do I do? Do I contact police? If he had it hit us with his car would he have been in a lot of trouble?

OP posts:
lisavanderpumpscloset · 07/08/2022 21:58

Of course he would've, but he didn't.

I'd chalk it up to a bad experience and let it go. Enjoy the rest of your holiday

HeddaGarbled · 07/08/2022 22:02

are laws / rules in USA different

Yes, it’s only illegal to run over Spanish people. Everyone else is fair game.

weekendninja · 07/08/2022 22:05

Do you have his license plate?

Any independent witnesses?

Even then I wouldn't bother - I'd enjoy the rest of my holiday.

Elsiid · 07/08/2022 22:05

The police won't give a fuck. Just enjoy your holiday.

HoppingPavlova · 07/08/2022 22:06

You are seriously asking if the laws are different in another country, and they are allowed to run people over with cars if they feel like it?

parietal · 07/08/2022 22:14

laws in the US vary from state to state, but in general are much less friendly to pedestrians in the road and more friendly to cars. So Jaywalking (crossing the road without a green pedestrian light) is an offence in some states or cities.

I would not want any contact with the USA police if I did not have to.

be glad you are not injured and enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Jalisco · 07/08/2022 22:18

How did he know they were Spanish? How did he know that you are not?

Bobshhh · 07/08/2022 22:46

So many questions!

Why would you think the laws would be so different in America that he'd be allowed to run you over? What do you expect the police to do?

How would he have known the group ahead were Spanish? How do you know they weren't Mexican? Or from anywhere else in Latin America? How do you know his nationality?

Jay walking is a thing, if your light had stopped for pedestrians he was legally allowed to move forward I believe.

easyday · 07/08/2022 23:01

Obviously even if the guy had a green light if there are pedestrians still in the road you don't drive forward. But no, there are no stop at crosswalks unless there is a light.
And actually even in this country cars do not have to stop at zebra crossing unless a pedestrian has actually started to cross.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 07/08/2022 23:02

I’m just posting for the OP’s updates.

Kite22 · 07/08/2022 23:32

Bobshhh · 07/08/2022 22:46

So many questions!

Why would you think the laws would be so different in America that he'd be allowed to run you over? What do you expect the police to do?

How would he have known the group ahead were Spanish? How do you know they weren't Mexican? Or from anywhere else in Latin America? How do you know his nationality?

Jay walking is a thing, if your light had stopped for pedestrians he was legally allowed to move forward I believe.

All my thoughts too

Dartmoorcheffy · 07/08/2022 23:35

Were the others dressed in flamenco outfits and you were wearing bowler hats and waving a union Jack??

Shade17 · 08/08/2022 17:14

in the U.K. a crossing is where people cross the road, if anyone is on the crossing or waiting to cross then you have to stop and let them cross, they have right of way

That’s not even the law in the UK, you are not required to stop if pedestrians are waiting to cross. You’re only required to give way to pedestrians who are already on the crossing.

sweatyannie · 08/08/2022 17:32

Does USA have equivalent to 101 ? If so ring that number 😆

Summersdreaming · 08/08/2022 17:38

🙄

figgyputty · 08/08/2022 18:30

Wondering too how you knew they were Spanish and not Mexican or from Central/South America. No need to contact the police, you weren't hit. Move on and enjoy the rest of your holiday

TheYearOfSmallThings · 08/08/2022 18:34

Just let it go, but know that if you are in a US city, you don't want to be slow crossing the road.

Hoppinggreen · 08/08/2022 18:38

To to summarise
Nothing happened
Your post suggests a race bias ( being really careful not to get deleted here)

Batshittery · 08/08/2022 18:42

Yes, the driver obviously knew the others were Spanish and you were not. That makes you fair game.
Have you ever stood at a zebra crossing in Spain? Not many drivers stop there. I'm now wondering if it's because they know I'm British 🤔

Batshittery · 08/08/2022 18:44

I forgot to say that you should definitely call the police. They'll want to hear about this

Ponderingwindow · 08/08/2022 18:47

Was there a light at the crosswalk? If there is a light, you may cross only as long as the signal indicates. Once it tells the pedestrians to stop, the pedestrian turn is over and you must be clear of the road. There is typically a countdown timer that makes this very simple.

if there was no traffic light, then as long as you are at a marked crossing or intersection, cars are supposed to stop and allow you to walk.

legally you may not cross a road anywhere other than at an intersection or a marked crosswalk. You may also not cross against the light. Both are offenses that can earn you a fine. It’s not something that will frequently be enforced in quiet residential areas. The police aren’t lurking waiting to give you a ticket because you popped across the street to your neighbor’s house. I have known people to get tickets in busier areas.

regardless of if you are following the rules or if you were jaywalking, drivers have a responsibility to not endanger pedestrians.

passport123 · 08/08/2022 18:48

In many countries, zebra crossings are just so the ambulance knows where to go.....

Vapeyvapevape · 08/08/2022 18:51

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Vapeyvapevape · 08/08/2022 18:54

Were the others dressed in flamenco outfits and you were wearing bowler hats and waving a union Jack
🤣🤣

longtompot · 08/08/2022 19:09

I'm guessing they had their We Are Spanish T-shirts on🙄

I think probably the more likely scenario is the group in front of you were crossing when the light was green for them, and then it changed (and they do very quickly) so you were now jaywalking and the car was legally allowed to drive through the crossing. We had this happen a few times when we were in Chicago a few years ago and it is quite disconcerting