[Closed] Why don't people know how to cross a road anymore?

i reckon folk are just scared of being run over Jim.
lights mean f all in leeds mate. for cars, bikes and people walking

It's the bastards that stand on the curb to wait to cross that annoy me...lol

As for the lights, my Mrs is german so I've got used to the 'we have to use the lights', thinking for yourself is soooo 80's

Some people are inconsiderate & just push the button out of habit.

multiculturalism init, in some places the feds would be after you for not using them 😉

I think drivers are increasingly 'assertive' about their right of way in the absence of a red light and pedestrians respond accordingly. We're moving in the direction of scandi-style road rules conformity. Do kids no longer play 'chicken'?

Button doesn't do anything anyway if cars are there, what are you bothered about?

^^ a typical way local authorities encourage car use by making pedestrians third class citizens.

There are a few in Harrogate that have a huge delay - approach a busy road, press de button and wait. And wait. Then wait some more. By the time they've turned to red the traffic has passed. Most times I don't bother waiting and nip across anyway (and I apologise to any drivers who then have to stop at a red light for no reason!).

There's two methods of crossing the road here:
A) being wjthin 10ft of a Crossing and walking into the traffic dodging cars buses and pizza delivery scooters as you go

B) pushing your pram/children into the road first at random busy locations to blackmail the traffic into stopping.

I press the button even if I’m not crossing....

Or, after a few beers, jam the button down with a matchstick. Not me, obs 😉

Pressing the button will only go green in sync with the pre defined traffic light pattern.

I'm confused.. Are you suggesting you should be able to press a button and blindly walk into a live lane of traffic?

Mrs is german so I’ve got used to the ‘we have to use the lights’

Good Lord yes, I got a serious earful once in Germany for crossing somewhere other than at the lights.

Any more of these observations since you gave up full time work Jim? Idle minds and all that 🙂

My wife has developed a multiple button press technique that (where we live at least) instantly turns the lights red. I thought she was pulling my leg but it genuinely seems to work to the extent of making a light that has just gone green go red again instantly. Can't get the timing right myself.

Button doesn’t do anything anyway if cars are there, what are you bothered about?

Well that's odd cos the pressing of the button seemed to turn the lights to red, which made me stop. No bugger else mind cos there was only me as far as the eye could see.
I wasn't that bothered cos I was driving a council vehicle in council time, getting paid for it. It just made me wonder why folks seem to have lost the ability to cross an empty road without pressing a button to stop any traffic that may (or may not) be approaching

I wasn’t that bothered cos I was driving a council vehicle in council time, getting paid for it. It just made me wonder why folks seem to have lost the ability to cross an empty road without pressing a button to stop any traffic that may (or may not) be approaching

When the council decided you were competent to use their vehicles they didn't ask any questions about Rule 7 or 21-23 of the Highway Code did they? (In brief - if there is a crossing use it; press button don't cross on a red man).

LOL @ Poly! I can tell you don't know the Green Cross Code! HaHa!!

Mainly because they're buried in their phones I find.

See so many people walk up to lights and press the button without the slightest look at the road.

Me on the other hand, I actively try to never press the crossing buttons, but then I'm maybe a bit odd.

I actively try to never press the crossing buttons

Yes, we must not delay our driving overlords

Possibly he pressed the button because there was traffic...you.

And then you stopped.

What was the question again?

Yes, we must not delay our driving overlords

Its nothing to do with delaying drivers i just want to cross in the least time possible.

The germany thing is hilarious nothing for miles and a whole bunch of people hanging round waiting ages for a light.

Edinburgh too actually but i think thats mainly american tourists.

I will wait if there are wee kids around to set a good example though.

i thought the thread was going to be about the problem that drivers of cars with keyless ignition have...traditionally those forced out of cars because they aren't going to a drive thru jump out and clasp their keys in their hand to indicate to other drivers their distress at coming over all ped' and then dash through moving traffic keys held aloft to confirm not a nutter that has walked to the shops but a fellow driver in distress

I press the button even if I’m not crossing….

Me too.

I’ve altered my route to work recently as I’ve discovered a set of lights that pretty much change to red as soon as you hit the button. It’s ace. Sometimes I’ll cross then press the button on the other side just because I can. This results in the lights letting about four cars through before turning red again. It would appear that some car drivers in general are becoming more self entitled. They need small reminders every now and then.

I had an altercation just yesterday morning. Walking (on the pavement) minding my own and a car is coming up the road at great speed. Anchors on, indicates and then tried to drive across the pavement about a foot in front of me. I carried on walking and he had to stop.

Dick head winds his window down and shouts “I’m indicating” to which I replied “It’s a pavement you ****ing idiot, pedestrians have right of way” this is why I press the buttons.

So confirmation above that peds can be pricks as well as car drivers, can't say I've learnt anything new so far today...

Dick head winds his window down and shouts “I’m indicating” to which I replied “It’s a pavement you **** idiot, pedestrians have right of way” this is why I press the buttons.

You should see how they get when you cross in front of the idiots who have got themselves stuck in yellow box junctions.

The other week, I used a pedestrian crossing because the road was quite busy. Traffic lights went red, I crossed the road safely, but then a self-entitled driver at the front of the queue decided to drive off a good ~5 seconds before the lights went green. I hope the camera was active and they received some mail.

Because an amber light seemingly no longer means stop but means boot the accelerator to beat the lights. And a red light no longer means stop for the first 1 second but nip through fingers crossed, I don't want to get caught at the lights

Did you know there is a little oojit that sticks out of the bottom of the box - this spins when it is safe to cross, which allows the visually impaired to have a tactile signal indicating they can proceed. (/trafficlighttrivia)

Pelican with flashing amber after red you can proceed with caution if no one crossing. Though I've seen two instances recently where someone decided they can proceed on red.

Anyway, numerous times been at a crossing with a phone zombie waiting there and they haven't even pressed the button. They just assume it's automatic (though some crossings have cameras that detect people crossing and will change or continue the lights on red if someone is crossing or being slow).

And a red light no longer means stop for the first 1 second but nip through fingers crossed, I don’t want to get caught at the lights

Probably the first thing I noticed moving back here was thr highway code had been ammened to mean turning red = 2 more cars.

Anyway, numerous times been at a crossing with a phone zombie waiting there and they haven’t even pressed the button. They just assume it’s automatic

Lots of junctions are on a cycle anyway, pressing doesn't do much or somebody already has. Add in people might not be from the UK and the whole thing is a bit of a jumbled mess.

I always wondered if you approach a crossing in your car and the lights turn red, but there is no-one waiting to cross, would you get done for going through the red?

I always wondered if you approach a crossing in your car and the lights turn red, but there is no-one waiting to cross, would you get done for going through the red?

Are you in a rush, is that meeting too important to miss, are you an MP?

Of course the lights only matter if there is somebody there, give it a go next time, post some dash cam footage up of doing it!!

Are you in a rush, is that meeting too important to miss, are you an MP?
Of course the lights only matter if there is somebody there, give it a go next time, post some dash cam footage up of doing it!!

?? Just asking. Jeez.

Think of the planet, all that unnecessary breaking and accelerating.

Am I misunderstanding the OP or is he complaining that pedestrians use pedestrian crossings in the manner for which they were designed?

if you approach a crossing in your car and the lights turn red, but there is no-one waiting to cross, would you get done for going through the red?

Yes. Just like you'd get done for going through a junction on a red light even if there was no opposing traffic.*

*provided police are watching, and can be bothered.

*provided police are watching, and can be bothered.

so no then...

There were huge delays a few months back on the A27 at Lewes when a pedestrian crossing on the westbound lanes went haywire constantly cycling red and green giving enough time for one car at a time to go through. It's a crossing that is very necessary to get across but used very infrequently (I've never had to stop for it) so the traffic was constantly stopping for a crossing that had absolutely no one anywhere near it.

I always wondered if you approach a crossing in your car and the lights turn red, but there is no-one waiting to cross, would you get done for going through the red?

Yes.

Which is a PITA as there is a crossing on the A78 right at a roundabout that invariably turns to red in time to watch the peds disappear around the distant corner having already crossed. Right place to put it but the signal time obviously needs to be sped up.

Is confused. Based on empirical observation of London drivers I'd assumed that they can go wherever they like, whenever they like, at whatever speed they like, regardless of pedestrians or (especially) cyclists that are already (legally) occupying that space?

Numerous times lately I’ve noticed pedestrians walking straight up to the button on the yellow box of the crossing without even casting a glance up & down the road.

But if they crossed, they'd be jumping a red light. And they don't pay road tax or wear helmets.

It's a sad indictment of modern society that crossing the road has become an unacceptable hazard. In years to come, crossing the road of your own volition will be in the same category as uncontrolled level crossings are now

In years to come, crossing the road of your own volition will be in the same category as uncontrolled level crossings are now

Depends on what accident avoidance logic gets programmed into the autonomously driven cars doesn't it? It's just as likely car owners will fear going through residential neighborhoods in case they end up in a wall because a zombie on their phone stepped out without looking. Or just because the car keeps stopping every few metres as it can't work out people close to the kerb vs those about to step out.

butcher

Numerous times lately I’ve noticed pedestrians walking straight up to the button on the yellow box of the crossing without even casting a glance up & down the road.

But if they crossed, they’d be jumping a red light. And they don’t pay road tax or wear helmets.

even now on some ped' forum there will be a very long thread explaining the benefits to the ped' community of always waiting at crossings and suggesting that helmet wearing and a registration tax will gain respect from motorised road users

So confirmation above that peds can be pricks as well as car drivers, can’t say I’ve learnt anything new so far today…

Not sure if aimed at me, but 6:30 in the morning, if you’re mounting a pavement with the intention of cutting across me to get in your car park, you’re getting abused. Don’t like it, don’t act like an entitled prick 😀

There were huge delays a few months back on the A27 at Lewes when a pedestrian crossing on the westbound lanes went haywire

One of GlennQuagmire's matchsticks?

Not sure if aimed at me, but 6:30 in the morning, if you’re mounting a pavement with the intention of cutting across me to get in your car park, you’re getting abused. Don’t like it, don’t act like an entitled prick

It was but at your comment about pressing the button even after you've crossed just to be annoying, rather than the car trying to run you over thing...

I think people wearing headphones all the time doesn't help

It's the ones that think "ooh I can just run across and I'll be fine".
And those that follow them. Especially those that put their umbrellas in the way of oncoming traffic as it's clearly generating a forcefield to protect them from impending death.
Gonna have to fit the airhorn to the bike again.

It was but at your comment about pressing the button even after you’ve crossed just to be annoying, rather than the car trying to run you over thing…

Yeah but pressing the button means the traffic stops and all those morning commuters can finish their cereal and write a couple of witty tweets in the break.

Round here its the coffin dodgers who stand at zebra crossings chatting away to an acquaintance who has just crossed the road. So the oncoming cars do not know if they are about to march out or will be another 5mins gassing about Majories hip replacemnt
This is in complete contrast to the electric mobility scooter brigade who charge across without a care.
I think the reasoning is ' well if someone hits me whats the worst that will happen ,, I end up in a wheelchair. . . . . hang on I am already in one'

It was but at your comment about pressing the button even after you’ve crossed just to be annoying, rather than the car trying to run you over thing…

Some people just like to watch the world burn 😉

It’s on a junction with bad visibility. I just see myself as a bonus traffic calming measure.

Dick head winds his window down and shouts “I’m indicating” to which I replied “It’s a pavement you **** idiot, pedestrians have right of way” this is why I press the buttons.

This is a bit like a car driver punishment passing every cyclist they see because they noticed some bloke riding through a red light sometime last week.

The ones who pretend to run when they step out as you're approaching are my favourites. A perfect jogging motion but no increase in speed whatsoever.

This is a bit like a car driver punishment passing every cyclist they see because they noticed some bloke riding through a red light sometime last week.

Not really though, no car drivers were harmed by stopping properly at a traffic light.

Round here its the coffin dodgers who stand at zebra crossings chatting away to an acquaintance who has just crossed the road.

Round here its the coffin dodgers who stand at the roadside chatting away to an acquaintance who just happened to be driving by.

One of GlennQuagmire’s matchsticks?

😊

Not guilty! 😉

Aye watch out Glenn, else I'll be after you in my NYCC minibus & my pink baseball cap!

By some of the replies on this I can just picture (have actually witnessed it anyway) some people who have said stuff like 'what are pedestrian crossings for then?'

Run this through your mind....

They run up to the yellow box with just one initial intention, that button is like a finger magnet & even if it said 'do not press', they'd be like Dougal off Father Ted. They just have this ingrained impulse imprinted in their heads to press the button. Unfortunately Mummy's not with them today so they have to cross the road on their own, but at least with the aid of a crossing. On the way to the crossing they haven't even looked up & down the road to check for traffic & haven't realised that the road is clear, they don't even care, safety is paramount! (which it is, obs)
The button is pressed with great enthusiasm & now It's a waiting game......'hurry up green man, light up ya bastid, I'm not crossing till you turn green'. Eventually after about 10 seconds of frustration, finger biting & anticipation, It's all systems go, 'BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP'... It's at this point that Mummy's boy looks right, looks left, looks right again....still not actually noticing/realising/registering that the road is still clear.

I've seen it, many times.

Ok, There's a good reason why we have crossings & I'm a regular user (you need them on Knaresborough Road) but for crying out loud, open your eyes. If you think It's unsafe to cross then press the button, If the roads clear & you still feel the need to ask for the help of the green man then you really shouldn't be out on your own.

It's a bit dispiriting to see that the forum is full of Mr Toads.

Always been that way. Very anti measures to protect cyclists

Maybe it's because people don't trust drivers when crossing the road (and maybe I feel that way because of the bumnugget that nearly ran me over on the way home from work this evening).

Walking along a busyish road, I need to cross a wideish side road. Same as every night, I walk up the side road a touch (to where the drop kerb is, which gives me better visibility) and check for traffic in all directions. There's nothing on the side road, traffic turning right is stationary and there's nothing in sight to turn left so I set off over the road.

Now bear in mind at this point I'm walking towards traffic turning left into the road I'm crossing, so I have a pretty good view of the clear road when I step off the kerb.

I'm more than halfway across - over the centre line - when a car comes down the road indicating to turn left. Given how far over the road I am, I keep going. Now I can appreciate that it's dark and I may have been hard to spot before he turned, but I'm far enough down the side road that he has plenty of room to stop when his headlights are pointing straight at me. He's also not going especially fast as it's a right angle turn, so we're not talking emergency stop here.

Oh no. This guy ain't stopping for no one. He cruises on past, maybe a couple of feet from where I've stepped back to. Slowly enough to look out the side window at the tirade of foul language and arm waving I'm spewing forth by this point.

And the best bit? The best bit is that the car behind him, who must have seen this all unfold (it's not THAT dark, it's a residential street with lights) rolls on past too. Because clearly I'd prefer to be stood in the middle of the road.

The traffic light crossing I'd just used outside work was fine though. Every cloud eh?

The OP isn’t talking about what you do when there is traffic about.
& for all those who think this is about being pro-car. Far from it. Have you never been stopped by a red light when you are on your bike?.. with the pedestrian 50 yards along the road, having crossed with the light on green , not having bothered to wait for it to change as there is nothing coming?

Have you never been stopped by a red light when you are on your bike?.. with the pedestrian 50 yards along the road, having crossed with the light on green , not having bothered to wait for it to change as there is nothing coming?

Yep, on a bike, in a car, in a van etc. just stop and chill, whats the rush? It's not as if those seconds are going to make a huge difference.

TJ, what exactly is your point because for the life of me I can't see where "anti measures to protect cyclists" comes into this discussion at all?

“anti measures to protect cyclists” comes into this discussion at all?

I'm guessing he means the amount of making progress petrol head, unfair I got caught speeding/parking illegally/getting held up posts that appear on here.

Have you never been stopped by a red light when you are on your bike?.. with the pedestrian 50 yards along the road, having crossed with the light on green , not having bothered to wait for it to change as there is nothing coming?

And if the pedestrian had waited, I'd still have to stop. I can't say it bothers me.

Dick head winds his window down and shouts “I’m indicating” to which I replied “It’s a pavement you **** idiot, pedestrians have right of way” this is why I press the buttons.

This is a bit like a car driver punishment passing every cyclist they see because they noticed some bloke riding through a red light sometime last week.

Wha? Yes I am endangering the lives of poor motorists by inconveniencing them in 14 second increments. In all seriousness I save that for when I’m driving my HGV. This is when get closer and closer to cars in an attempt to frighten them, risk their very existence and force them off the road. You know, like pressing a ****ing button.

 

The OP isn’t talking about what you do when there is traffic about.

I know, I just needed to vent and starting a new thread seemed excessive.

Walking along a busyish road, I need to cross a wideish side road. Same as every night, I walk up the side road a touch (to where the drop kerb is, which gives me better visibility) and check for traffic in all directions. There’s nothing on the side road, traffic turning right is stationary and there’s nothing in sight to turn left so I set off over the road.

This happens so frequently that I even went to the trouble of looking up and memorising the bit in the Highway Code that says that pedestrians have priority in this situation, so I can include the information in my pre-programmed "why don't you effing learn to drive" spiel.

The OP isn’t talking about what you do when there is traffic about.

Mebbe - but sometimes you think there is no traffic when there actually is, like there's a car going round a corner much faster than you thought possible, or you mistook which direction the traffic should be coming from due to some one way foolishness.

Of course a conscientious pedestrian, doing his sacred duty to not inconvenience the Masters Of The Road in any way whatsoever, could undertake a thorough analysis of every road situation they encounter. Or they could just be in the habit of always pressing the button and waiting for the green man.

@esselgruntfuttock - I'll be watching! And if I spot you I'll be sure to press that button 😋

But I tend to agree with what you're saying. If I'm looking at crossing a road, If I spot a gap I'll cross - it's not that difficult. Pedestrian crossings are useful when traffic is heavy, but if light then there's not much point pressing and waiting. It's not just about inconveniencing the driver, needless extra pollution when it can be avoided.

Lol, this hit my mind too. Pedestrians should take paid lessons on how to cross the street.

If there isn't such course available yet, let's start one. ha ha

Lol, this hit my mind too. Pedestrians should take paid lessons on how to cross the street.

If there isn’t such course available yet, let’s start one. ha ha

Great idea - fill the world with dangerous metal boxes speeding around, and then blame people who inadvertently get in their way - the ultimate "victim blaming".

Think once, think twice! Think... DON'T drive your car on the pavement!!!

I’m guessing he means the amount of making progress petrol head, unfair I got caught speeding/parking illegally/getting held up posts that appear on here.

And I'm still failing to see any relevance to this particular topic.

It’s not just about inconveniencing the driver, needless extra pollution when it can be avoided.

If the driver is concerned about pollution then there is a better solution.

And here we go...

The Pistonheads forum is ---------->

needless extra pollution when it can be avoided.

The bit you failed to grasp.

But why have an intelligent conversation when you can just be a prat?

[woke mode] can we call it a green person and not a green man? [/woke mode]