Crossing road when children around?

galvanizersbaby

bestpud wrote: »

Good grief!

Our children are our responsibility and nobody else's! How arrogant to think everyone else should stop and wait when the road is clear and safe to cross!

Personally, I'd use it as a reason to discuss road safety further!

There are lots of things children have to learn they cannot do and this is one of them.

What is wrong with saying the person stopped and looked carefully and they felt safe to cross, but we are all different and they have longer legs etc, so the child must wait for the green man?

It's about teaching them there is many scenarios when it comes to road safety and they must do what is best for them.

Why can't people simply take responsibility for their own children?

Plus, what do people teach children to do on roads without crossings?

Agree with Bestpud entirely

I think as a mother of 2 small children I would never mutter any derogatory comment about a fellow road crosser (justified or not) within earshot of my children as DD would be bound to repeat it if another 'silly lady/man' were to cross before the Green man!

galvanizersbaby

freakyogre wrote: »

I generally wait for the green man, but if the road is obviously clear, I will cross whether there are kids there or not. I won't cross if there is a vehicle coming and I tend to check several times before crossing anyway. It's not down to me to parent other peoples children (selfish blah blah yep).

When driving I like to get as close to peoples legs as I can when they decide to cross the road when it's red for them, it adds to the fun of driving. I must be honest though and tend to find it's parents dragging their kids across when it's unsafe to do so, or people with buggies![/QUOTE]

I usually find it is teenagers who like to try and saunter across making you brake harshly to show off to their mates (usually stood on the pavement watching) that do this!

mouche

I grew up in a country where there is no green man and people drive very rashly and frequently jump red lights. I was taught to look left, right and left again and cross only if there was plenty of distance between me and the next car. I think the green man is part of the increasing dumbing down of rules. Though I don't have children yet, I will certainly be teaching them the 'sensible' way of crossing roads rather than the 'blind' way. That way they will be safe whatever country they go to.

dixie_dean_2

The suggestion that we should wait is ludicrous. It's not a bad example and as has been mentioned you would just explain to the kids that adults can cross the road safely. Ludicrous. That someone would swear, shout, or, frankly, say anything to someone not waiting is more worrying to me.

ailuro2

I normally wait for the green man even if there aren't any kids there. There may be some walking along the street, or in passing cars.

I do believe in practising what I preach, certainly when kids are likeylt obe out and about.

If it's 7 in the morning with hardly any cars around then I would not press the button and wait for the green man.

I do think it's very rude to press the button then cross, leaving the lights a red for drivers who can plainly see I've already crossed.

I always use a pedestrian crossing too if there's one close by, even if it's easier to cross where I want to.

Yes, I do think the adult world as a whole should be setting a good example to kids - I don't think it ever did any harm in the old days to have the community looking out for kids when they were out and about without parents to watch out for them.

bestpud

ailuro2 wrote: »

I do think it's very rude to press the button then cross, leaving the lights a red for drivers who can plainly see I've already crossed.

That annoys me too! And many parents allow their kids to press them as they walk along the road!

bestpud

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

I usually find it is teenagers who like to try and saunter across making you brake harshly to show off to their mates (usually stood on the pavement watching) that do this!

I used to get as close as was safely possible and give the horn a good press.

They soon got a shift on, much to the amusement of the mates they were trying to impress!

Katie-Kat-Kins

tiamai_d wrote: »

and the ones who say its not up to them to teach other peoples children to cross the road are the same ones who will moan that in Italy/France/somewhere else children are better behaved....

They are because their PARENTS take responsibility for raising them sensibly rather than relying upon society to do it for them.

NAR

nervousftb wrote: »

strictly speaking yes, but jaywalking is not a crime in the uk

Jaywalking is an offence in Northern Ireland (part of the UK), although it is rarely enforced. The enforcing of such is at the discretion of the observing officer. Enforcement usually results in the issuing of a £30 non-endorsable fixed penalty notice, however, may result in arrest and court prosecution eg: for failing to provide a satisfactory name and/or address.

mrcow

Cross when you like.

I teach my children to think for themselves. Not blindly cross a road because someone else is.

If they were to point out to me what you were doing, I'd tell them to ignore you.