inconsiderate rush hour drivers

Money-Saving-King

Bowling_4_Gold wrote: »

I just start walking out. Normally scares the driver enough to make them stop!

It might be a good idea if you haven't already to write a will!

vikingaero

There's a balance between taking a risk in forcing drivers to stop. Getting visual contact with them is important as is being assertive in crossing. Sometimes you just have to step out to force them (and scares them) but I always make sure I'm able to get out of the way.

fin7

I was walking across a crossing the other day, the green man was on and a car just sailed over the crossing, don't think they even noticed I was on the crossing or that the lights were on red!

Indie_Kid

fin7 wrote: »

I was walking across a crossing the other day, the green man was on and a car just sailed over the crossing, don't think they even noticed I was on the crossing or that the lights were on red!

And this is why I hate crossing when there's cars coming around the corner.

knightstyle

Well here in rural Lincolnshire I find drivers much more considerate than "down South" where we used to live and still go to visit family.
Cars usually give way at crossings and there is a roundabout which often snarls up straight on but we all know this and leave room for right turners. So Idiophreak come up here for a more relaxing morning drive.

DKLS

Take your son to Bangkok, if he can cross teh zebra crssings there he can do it anywhere!.

The rule is you just set off walking, but don't stop, keep going so the moped riders can safely judge and whizz past you!, if you do stop you will get hit.

It shouldnt work but does.

ladymagpie

Just to add in a different view - I'm a newly qualified driver, and the amount of times within the few weeks I've been driving on my own in which I've had to brake harshly because some idiot (sometimes with their Darwin - defying young in toe) decide to cross the road in between parked cars only a few feet away from an actual crossing with lights. My route to and from work goes past 3 schools and this is a recurring problem. Some people just want to eliminate themselves from the gene pool.

aileth

ladymagpie wrote: »

Just to add in a different view - I'm a newly qualified driver, and the amount of times within the few weeks I've been driving on my own in which I've had to brake harshly because some idiot (sometimes with their Darwin - defying young in toe) decide to cross the road in between parked cars only a few feet away from an actual crossing with lights. My route to and from work goes past 3 schools and this is a recurring problem. Some people just want to eliminate themselves from the gene pool.

They do this from between buses on my commute. If you HAD to cross between buses, surely you'd stand well back and look around until it's safe, or better just avoid crossing between buses at all. Instead they just walk straight out onto a busy road. We've had many a person almost stuck in our front grill because of this.

aldredd

Whilst the advice of stepping out, 1 footed, to 'force' drivers into stopping is all great, please think about it for a minute.

I will always aim to stop at a zebra crossing (or other designated safe crossing points). A driver who won't stop with you stood by the crossing isn't much more likely to stop just because you've placed a foot into the road, but you instead put yourself at danger. There are in fact times where it's just not safe for a driver to stop for a pedestrian (eg, already committed), and is it really worth the risk of losing your leg / the car getting rear-ended because they've had to slam their brakes on?

Instead, 'wait with purpose' - position yourself well. making it clear you want, and are ready, to cross. Make eye contact with the drivers approaching - in both directions - and only when you're certain they have/will stop do you cross.

Sounds obvious I know, but please lets not play chicken with your lives for the sake of getting across 30 seconds earlier.

And, whilst we're on the subject - car drivers, (me being one of course), if you see a parent waiting to cross a quiet street in a safe place (but not a zebra crossing) with a young walking child, please don't stop to let us across - just slow down and continue. I know you're trying to do a nice thing, but teaching my daughter to cross the road safely is difficult when cars stop to let her cross )

so to summarise - teach your children (and yourself!) that whilst yes, you may have a right of way to get across the road; don't risk your life asserting that right!

qetu1357

Fosterdog wrote: »

We stopped at a zebra crossing a few days ago to let a woman cross, not at rush hour, a car came the other way and just kept driving. The road had been clear when she started to cross but he came around a corner at such high speed she had to step back or would've been hit.

The guy was completely oblivious to what he had just done.

This is the point

49% oblivious, 49% don't care.

There are so many people driving who shouldn't be - loads of them are people who have never passed a test