Is it me, or are drivers becoming more and more unwilling to stop and let pedestrians cross at Zebra crossings? I have to use then several times a day going to and from work, at lunch etc - and I can wait patiently at the side of the road until the cows come home and virtually no one will stop and allow me to cross. I have missed my bus home on several occasions because of this!

Most of the time I have to wait until no cars are coming before crossing - which on a busy road can be a long time, and totally defeats the purpose of there being a zebra crossing in the first place!

I have now started to take more drastic measures and start to walk into the road and make drivers stop (only when there is sufficent distance for them to stop, I'm never daft), but when I do this all I seem to get is dirty looks from the drivers, impatient revving of engines and sometimes even sworn at.

I don't know whether I'm just wearing rose-tinted glasses - but I seem to remember a time when drivers would always let pedestrians cross at zebra crossings. Is it just me?

i stop! but then i have only had a car a short while so i know how it feels to be on the other side of the fence

Originally posted by banesmabes
I have now started to take more drastic measures and start to walk into the road and make drivers stop (only when there is sufficent distance for them to stop, I'm never daft), but when I do this all I seem to get is dirty looks from the drivers, impatient revving of engines and sometimes even sworn at.


I do that too, revving the engine just makes me go slower.

When I've been on holiday in Austria and Flanders I've noticed that people will stop whenever it looks like you might be wanting to cross, but I don't remember people ever being that courteous here. In Italy, on the other hand, people wouldn't stop for you even at pelican crossings when the drivers' light was on red.

Technique I use here is to stand close to the edge of the road and stare at the oncoming drivers, which usually alerts them, then wave thanks when I cross over.

Not just you I assure you, I do similar and venture in to the road and Like Nick I enjoy infuriating the impatient. Sudden attacks of dithering whilst crossing while crossing is a fantastic way of annoying these morons.

Zebra crossing
This crossing has black and white stripes (like a zebra) with orange flashing beacons at each end. A Zebra crossing gives the pedestrian right of way once their foot is on the crossing. However, pedestrians must make sure that all the traffic has stopped before crossing and they should keep looking and listening as they cross. Many people ask for Zebra crossings to be changed to Puffin crossings, believing them to be safer. Recent research has shown that the safety record of both types is very similar and that, in some cases, Zebras are safer.


How many car drivers know this.......:suspect:

Just walk out in front of them (as long as they have space to stop).

Ignorance is probably the main factor as EVERY driver knows you have to stop at pedestrian crossings!

On the flip side of the likes of Austria etc, In Paris, trying to cross a zebra crossing is relative suicide! No one stops!

Yep, I step out in front of them as long as they're not going to fast. This is probably not recommended, but at least you know that if they do hit you you'll be able to sue the asses of them :D

If you don't slow down for a Zebra crossing when people look like they might want to cross you'd be marked down in a driving test.
In general, I've noticed that most people seem to 'forget' how to drive after they've passed their test.

they aren't actually required to stop until you've put a foot on the crossing.

I always stop, but will admit to not having noticed somenoe loitering at the edge until it's too late to stop very occassionally. In that case though it's not that i've deliberately chosen to ignore them.

I had a friend killed at a pelican crossing in January, the inquest should have been held this week... Not sure what is happening with that, we don't really know any details except for that the car overtook the bus and hit my friend.

Woodhouse is reputedly the retirement village of sheffield.

I let people cross if they are in one of those cetral refuges and there is a queue of traffic behind me :D - particularly if they are elderly

Well nobody else is going to let them cross :(

Boy have I seen steam come out of some peoples' ears :hihi:

Cyclone that's shocking.

I stopped at a crossing in woodhouse and the transit behind me tried to overtake, but slammed his anchors on just before he would have hit the lady crossing it.

I bet he thought everybody in an MPV parks where they like - it was outside the medical centre :rolleyes:

In my experience drivers in Sheffield are pretty good at stopping at zebra crossings. Some of the stories above suggest otherwise but I suppose that's to be expected.

In Spain they seem to paint them on the road about every 20 yards which means that nobody pays a blind bit of notice to them. Here we're a bit more sensible and I think they work okay.

Oh, Splodge_CRB has actually described a puffin crossing in the zebra crossing description, in case anybody cares.....

.....Nope, thought not.

Okay, that should actually read pelican crossing ;)

I stop at them and nearly always get a surprised look and a thank you wave from the pedestrian.

The Highway Code is clear on this - if there is anyone on the crossing, you MUST stop (as has been stated above). You should also approach with caution and be prepared to give way to anyone who is waiting to cross.

http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/18.htm#1171

SilentStatic is right - you will fail on your driving test if you don't stop if someone is waiting to cross.

Originally posted by sirtommo

Oh, Splodge_CRB has actually described a puffin crossing in the zebra crossing description, in case anybody cares.....

.....Nope, thought not.

Sorry googled it in a hurry....

Same rules apply though....put yer foot down!

My only concern is tourists driving over here who may not be aware of the rules