I Don’t Stop for Kids Crossing The Road

tomleonhart on 05/08/2020 - 08:56
Last edited 06/08/2020 - 16:17 by 1 other user

So had an argument with the Mrs.

My kid school is located in a secluded suburb, all the streets around the school are very quiet except from the school hours.

When I do the school runs and when I see kids trying to cross the street (not zebra crossing), I drive at a reduced speed (and do fully expect to stop should they walk out) BUT I do not stop for them to cross. I do this because I believe this helps them not to expect drivers to give way to them.

My wife always stops the car in the middle of the road and let them cross which drives me mad. Yes, the road is very quiet and yes there’s no car behind but that’s like teaching them kids to expect drivers to stop. She asks me “Would you stop for your own kid?” to which I replied “no, I’ll do the same thing. Don’t want her to cross the road when there’s a car coming”. To which she replies “you’re such an a**”

So am I an ahole or not? (=

update:

Without a word of a lie, today 6/8/2020, was putting my daughter in the car and saw a boy trying to zoom across the road 1 car ahead. He didn't see the Ford mondeo coming from the right. I shouted "stop" which he did. The Ford zoomed past and he said "thanks, they usually stop". oh well. Can't wait to tell the Mrs when she gets home. Lolz.

Automotive

Comments

                                      • syousef on 06/08/2020 - 16:19

                                        @John Kimble:

                                        I need help? I'm not the one flipping out and attacking others…

                                        Yeah you're just the one that used up all your downvotes then pretty much told me to shut up.

                                        Why are you still talking to me? It's pretty damn clear you think I'm a knob. I've suggested you go talk to someone you respect. I have no other suggestions for you.

                                        • John Kimble on 06/08/2020 - 16:26

                                          @syousef: Um, a neg vote just means I disagree with what you've written. How does that escalate to me thinking you're a knob or me disrespecting you? Apologies if that's what you think, but it's not the case…I don't even know you.

                                          You've clearly taken a side on this (the wife's) where most appear to be on the OP's side. Of course you're going to get neg votes…

                                          • syousef on 06/08/2020 - 16:31
                                            +1

                                            @John Kimble: Really I may complain about the voting system here - I have been frank that I think anon neg voting sucks - but I have a thick skin and I've been here for quite some time. And for all the crap on this board, I've had worse online. Like threats and having pictures of me and my family defaced worse.

                                            When I said I don't care what you think of me, I mean that quite literally. You're a stranger to me too. A few neg votes are inconsequential, and I'd be pretty surprised if we ended up friends who cared about each other's opinions.

                                            I'm much more interested in you having an expert in road safety correct you. That may actually save a life.

                                            I sincerely believe that some of the attitudes I've seen on this thread are a danger to life and that the more people think like this the more people will be killed and injured. There is no trolling going on here, and I'm not on this side of the keyboard hyperventilating. But I'm not going to see these attitudes and not comment.

                                            • John Kimble on 06/08/2020 - 16:41

                                              @syousef: Good then. Glad we cleared that up.

                                              Well we'll have to agree to disagree, because I feel like an "expert in road safety" would side with what most people have commented here, that drivers stopping without warning to allow pedestrians to cross at unmarked crossings is generally a bad thing to do. How can you not see this?

                                              For some reason you've gone all extreme the other way saying we are all out to kill/run over children? 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️ All we are saying is people should obey the road rules/be predictable and in this case, we are wanting to provide kids with some real life learning.

                                              Lastly, I'm all for transparent neg voting, I'm not afraid or shy to reveal my neg votes (hence my first reply to you). They should all be visible or all hidden. Why are positive votes visible and negs not? Why are pos voted unlimited and neg votes capped? Stupid.

                                              (#)FreeTheNegVote

                                              • syousef on 06/08/2020 - 16:45
                                                -1

                                                @John Kimble:

                                                I feel like an "expert in road safety" would side with what most people have commented here

                                                Find out. I sincerely doubt any road safety expert is going to tell you not to ensure the widest margin to avoid a pedestrian.

                                                For some reason you've gone all extreme the other way saying we are all out to kill/run over children?

                                                I think there are people here who are arrogant and misguided, and maybe lazy but not malicious per se.

                                                All we are saying people should obey the road rules/be predictable and in this case, we are wanting to provide kids with some real life learning.

                                                Out on the road where they could get run over is the wrong place to provide that lesson. Do it somewhere safe. Like the classroom. One OzB user commented that the school should be informed of the behaviour, and I agree with that.

                                                Lastly, I'm all for transparent neg voting, I'm not afraid or shy to reveal my neg votes (hence my first reply to you). They should all be visible or all hidden. Why are positive votes visible and negs not? Why are pos voted unlimited and neg votes cappe? Stupid.

                                                Something we agree on, at last!

                    • ssquid on 06/08/2020 - 17:15
                      +1

                      @syousef: … You know you play as the frog in Frogger right, not the cars?

                      • syousef on 06/08/2020 - 18:38

                        @ssquid: Nah! Really?!? You mean my analogy wasn't perfect?!?! Say it isn't so!

          • tomleonhart on 06/08/2020 - 14:32
            +3

            @TEER3X: My old Sergeant used to say " if you see a guy with a face like he got a carrot up his ar**, ignore or don't engage in a civil manner". I just take his advice re syouself lol.

  • 7hours 44min ago on 06/08/2020 - 11:56

    Jump on the next dash cam deal!

    • syousef on 06/08/2020 - 12:51

      Watch that dash cam footage get used against you in a court of law?

  • lew380 on 06/08/2020 - 12:12
    +2

    Your wife sound very nice, but that level of codling gets kids killed, they need to learn the system and make the right choices at the right time, ie your not Moses, cars won't part to let you cross

  • Skinnerr on 06/08/2020 - 12:48

    Lol, even as an adult when I'm waiting to cross a road if it's busy some nice old lady or housemum will stop in the road, like OP's wife to let me cross (legends).

    But your logic is sound OP. Dangerous precedent to teach kids that it's not just a nifty shortcut but to be expected is how 'accidents' happen.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/08/2020 - 12:51
    -1

    OP, you're right. Assholes need to follow the road rules. Nothing worse than someone stopping in the middle of the road for no reason.

    • TEER3X on 06/08/2020 - 13:11

      You'd expect some/most people to stop here.
      For no reason means no reason. That is the worst.

      • [Deactivated] on 06/08/2020 - 14:03
        +1

        I'm not sure what you're saying.

  • The mikky on 06/08/2020 - 13:00
    -4

    Always stop at a crossing for kids, that is blatantly stupid thinking that you shouldn’t.

    I hope my kid lives no where near you.

    Apologies I misread your post, fair call, but if they still proceed I hope you stop for them.

    • TEER3X on 06/08/2020 - 13:11
      +5

      Yep, I think you misread the post.

  • AyjeofSpades on 06/08/2020 - 13:01

    I didn't realise this was a thing. Kids use the designated crossings, or they are old enough to navigate traffic and cross elsewhere.

  • TEER3X on 06/08/2020 - 13:07
    +1

    Driving around in the US they have these big yellow school buses and when the door opens, a stop sign swings open with it. So all cars come to a halt.
    and what do the kids do? They fly across the road in all directions, WITHOUT looking.

    • ssquid on 06/08/2020 - 14:37

      It's the same with our trams. You'd have to be crazy to blindly step off onto the road assuming no driver will pass a stopped tram though.

      • BobLim on 09/08/2020 - 21:34

        Once or twice I might've accidentally taken a very fast swinging step out of the door in my steel caps just as a car was coming past illegally…

    • Caped Baldy on 07/08/2020 - 13:54

      I see the topic come up reddit occasionally. Always makes me angry as it's teaching kids to be careless and not responsible for themselves.

  • magpuy on 06/08/2020 - 13:10

    This will all stop when your wife gets rear-ended by a muppet driving too close behind her. The kid should be taking care of their own life and only attempting to cross when it is safe, and not assuming that every driver is going to yield to them.

  • nobro25 on 06/08/2020 - 13:19

    I guess Australia is becoming like China/India where everyone's gonna be on the road whether it's dogs cats pigs sheep bull.
    Basically with OP's wife mentality you'll have to stop every 5 meters when driving in the CBD.
    Coz you'll see mofos crossing in between pedestrian lights 10 metres away.

    • John Kimble on 06/08/2020 - 13:23

      When I drive through Cabramatta I have to brake for people crossing road wherever and whenever they like without even looking!

  • Orico on 06/08/2020 - 13:39
    +4

    Moral of this thread.

    Don't get married.

    • tomleonhart on 06/08/2020 - 13:43

      lulz. too late

      • Orico on 06/08/2020 - 13:55

        I don't have kids but I'd be much more comfortable to tell my partner's big mouth hens to get out of my spa and go home if I was married and had kids.
        There's only so much I can hear about makeup, fashion, swimwear and ladies health.

  • pav on 06/08/2020 - 13:42
    +2

    You are definately doing the right thing. When navigating roads either as a driver, cyclist or a pedestrian the safest thing for everyone to do is be predictable. The reason is because everyone uses roads based on the assumption that everyone else is following the rules. If other road users are following the rules you can predict what they are going to do. Eg. You can drive through a green light without slowing down and checking the adjecent road because you're assuming other road users are going to stop at a red light.

    Coming back to your example, doing something unpredictable like stopping in the middle of the road for a pedstrian when not at a zebra crossing can cause an accident because no one is anticipating it. Eg. you could be re-ended from behind and pushed into the pedestrian, or you wave the child and they cross thinking it's safe and while waving 'thank you' to you a car from the other direction runs them over. As you pointed out it also teaches them bad expectations that cars would stop for them. I'd agree it's much more dangerious to stop for them. Better to let them focus on the traffic and find a safe opportunity to cross while checking all directions.

    For this reason when I am walking with my kids and we come up to a road to cross, I never let cars stop for us because I don't want to teach them that cars will stop for them. When it happens I just let the driver sit there and wave us all they like, we just wait patiently for them to go and eventually they do.

  • Keeegs on 06/08/2020 - 13:58
    +1

    I agree with your stance OP, look up "wave of death".

  • steve289 on 06/08/2020 - 14:35

    At the shopping centre, I don't stop for people not wearing masks.
    Do I need to create a new thread?

    • tomleonhart on 06/08/2020 - 14:39

      it's only fair that you do.

  • brazen00 on 06/08/2020 - 15:21
    +1

    Looks like the community has spoken but I'll throw in my 2c. I'm a pedestrian much more than I am a driver and it frustrates the hell out of me when people stop when they clearly have priority. It's simply not safe. I've had plenty of times where I've refused to cross in such circumstances and been abused by the driver.

    On the other hand, of course, if the pedestrian has priority (i.e. a crossing, slip lane or car turning the corner) you'd better stop!

  • Miss B on 06/08/2020 - 15:56
    +1

    If it's at a school and there's a crossing and the children aren't using it, let the school know. They can remind the children to use the crossing. Especially given you've said this is primary school. If there's no crossing, one should be put in.

    I'm not completely anti-jaywalking, but primary school aged children and at a school where there can be a lot of cars moving around, I believe it is very important that they don't jaywalk.

    It's yours and your wife's responsibility to make sure it's not up to the drivers, your child should be crossing at the crossing. Even if it means they'll be a couple of minutes late.

    • syousef on 06/08/2020 - 16:08

      Actually it is up to drivers to ensure they don't hit pedestrians under any circumstances. That is the law. There are even links in this thread.

      Your suggestion to contact the school if the kids are behaving in a dangerous way is solid though.

      • Miss B on 06/08/2020 - 16:19
        +2

        OP's wife asked if they would stop if their own child was waiting at the side of the road where it's not a crossing. Their child should be at the crossing, then it's not up to drivers to decide. I think you'll find there is no law that says drivers must stop if there is someone waiting at the side of the road where it's not a crossing. That is what the post is about.

        • syousef on 06/08/2020 - 16:22
          -3

          . I think you'll find there is no law that says drivers must stop if there is someone waiting at the side of the road where it's not a crossing.

          Please get more familiar with the law.This was linked above.

          https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/pedestri…

          "Drivers must give way to pedestrians crossing the road into which their vehicles are turning. You must also give way to pedestrians if there is a danger of colliding with them, even if there is no marked pedestrian crossing"

          • Miss B on 06/08/2020 - 16:46
            +2

            @syousef: The children aren't crossing the road, they're waiting at the side and there's no mention of turning a corner. Yes, if there's a pedestrian on the road of course you don't run them over, that would be absurd.

            • syousef on 06/08/2020 - 19:19

              @Miss B: You said " I think you'll find there is no law that says drivers must stop if there is someone waiting at the side of the road where it's not a crossing. "

              The quote I provided "You must also give way to pedestrians if there is a danger of colliding with them, even if there is no marked pedestrian crossing""

              Yes there is a law that you must stop if there is any risk of hitting someone who is crossing or about to cross the road, even if there is no pedestrian crossing. "But there wasn't a crossing there" doesn't mean it's ever okay to hit a pedestrian. I don't know how that could be any clearer. And I don't give a stuff if it gets down-voted.

              • Miss B on 06/08/2020 - 20:46

                @syousef: There's no danger of colliding with them if they're not on the road and I am on the road. If there is a child near the road waiting to cross and it's reasonable to do so, such as in a school zone, I will slow down and keep an eye on them, but I won't stop. If they make any move to cross the road I will stop, because they're no longer waiting.

                If you happen to get downvoted for that comment it will be for something like where you act as though I'm arguing that people should mow pedestrians down if you see them on the road, when I said that of course you don't run them over if they're on the road. Your assumption seems to be that it's because people think you should mow down pedestrians and it's somehow an unpopular opinion.

                • syousef on 06/08/2020 - 21:48

                  @Miss B: Seriously?1? You've never seen a child run out in front of traffic?!? I've had enough of this. Better things to do.

                  • Miss B on 06/08/2020 - 22:16
                    +3

                    @syousef: Yes, including in front of my car. Had one ride in front of my car too. I didn't run over any of them. Stupid adults do it too. I didn't run any of them over either.

  • djmm on 06/08/2020 - 18:52

    "lolz"? How old are you OP?

    • tomleonhart on 06/08/2020 - 18:54

      32? Inside … 12

      • djmm on 06/08/2020 - 20:44

        You talk like 11

        • tomleonhart on 07/08/2020 - 03:42
          +1

          Thanks for the compliment.

  • jackjames on 06/08/2020 - 18:56
    +3

    I can't wait for collision avoidance systems to be in all cars… Trust me that the kids will know they can stop the cars and cross only when cars are coming just to shit the oldies.

    • pangwen on 06/08/2020 - 18:58

      By the time that happens, we'll be the oldies :(

    • factor on 06/08/2020 - 20:30
      +3

      The automation will need to squash the ocassional human to keep us all in check!

  • sleet on 06/08/2020 - 19:27

    I don't stop or kids and adults - if there are a blood zebra crossing mere metres away.

    Notorious in the Glebe/Annandale area along Booth Street. There are 3 zebra crossings along the street or so and it still amazes me that people honestly can't be bothered to walk an extra 5-10 metres to cross safely.

  • katykat on 06/08/2020 - 20:09
    +3

    Holy shit! You are 100% correct and your wife needs to stop. The same applies to all pedestrians, not just kids and also to all other road users. It's best to follow the rules and be predictable. Jesus Christ!

    In my old job I dealt with road fatalities daily and a lot of accidents are caused by people trying to do the "nice" thing which just confuses everyone. Pedestrians and cyclists in particular are very vulnerable to it. Plus you are right that your wife is teaching children bad road etiquette that could hurt them in the long run.

  • echelon6 on 06/08/2020 - 20:41
    +1

    You are an (profanity) for not running them over.

  • jtc13 on 06/08/2020 - 22:44
    +2

    I am with you mate. When I was training my dog for crossing the road and we stop for traffic and wait there are about 30% of cars on quiet streets that will stop as though they are doing me a favour. The sentiment is nice but it won't teach my dog how to safely cross the road if I am not there so it frustrates the hell out of me.

    I don't see it as any different for the kids. Of course you go slower as kids are unpredictable but they should not think cars will stop for them if there is no crossing. They should learn to wait till there is a safe break in the traffic to cross or alternatively find the school crossing or zebra crossing.

    • Caped Baldy on 07/08/2020 - 13:55

      I've almost rear ended a car that stopped for a dog walker. I still think s/he's an a—hole for stopping.

  • TheBird on 07/08/2020 - 00:04

    So am I an ahole or not? (=

    Don't think I've seen an answer to this yet. Yes you are.

    You're both right and wrong.

    You don't want to condition them into unsafe practices… on the other hand, children are unpredictable. You also need to be the adult. I think the real answer is somewhere between but as always, it will depend on the circumstances.

    Investing in a good air horn can help reset poor conditioning.

  • bargain ogre on 07/08/2020 - 05:28

    you might be an ahole for completely different reasons.

    but not for this one.

  • mavack on 07/08/2020 - 07:09
    -1

    The tarmac/road/carpark is the cars domain, the footpath is the pedestrians domain.

    Either entering into the other should treat the other with respect. And paying attention.

    Any pedestrian at road, zebra crossing, lights etc should pay attention regardless.

    Same goes for drivers when your in control of a motor vehicle, just that you pay attention.

    I had a reverse incident a few months ago in a carpark, another driver coming up to the end of a row, T intersection essentially, i was driving across the top, i watched her and she didnt once look up before driving in front of me. Thats bad enough, but my wifes comment "why you annoyed she could have been dealing with her kids in the back" I shot back shes in control of a motor vehicle….

  • FireSword on 07/08/2020 - 08:46
    +2

    I almost died because a car stopped for me to cross in a two lane road. They stopped for no reason during green traffic light and beckoned for me to cross, which I did. Then I almost got hit by the car in the next lane that I couldnt see through the stopped car. They were going 60 and had to stamp on the brakes to stop and barely avoid hitting me.

    I still dont know why that car stopped but never cross the road just because someone beckons or tells you to.

  • Ash20 on 07/08/2020 - 09:08

    You should be glad you are not in Denmark, you could lose your license on spot! :D

    • tomleonhart on 07/08/2020 - 09:11

      do enlighten me please ?

      • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2020 - 11:11

        in denmark they take your license from you sometimes

  • jinny7 on 07/08/2020 - 09:14

    You have right of way.
    If your wife is concerned for safety in your driving perhaps approach slower.

    • tomleonhart on 07/08/2020 - 09:15

      in all honesty, I can't really drive any slower than 20 km/h

  • juzz88 on 07/08/2020 - 09:28
    +1

    I'm 100% with you OP.

    In Italy, people don't even stop when you are standing next to a zebra crossing. You actually have to start crossing before anyone will bother to stop. It's hilarious watching people visiting for the first time stand at a zebra crossing on a busy road for minutes, not understanding why nobody is stopping for them.

    • Hangryuman on 07/08/2020 - 10:36
      +2

      'In Italy, people don't even stop'

      reminds me of Vietnam where I don't recall seeing marked pedestrian crossings so there was nothing to wait at

      what locals would do is simply walk straight out - at a steady pace - into the river of mostly 100cc Honda Dream mopeds or similar - the traffic would see you and flow around you no problemo

      I'd see teenage girls without even a look towards the oncoming traffic - busy talking to their friend, step straight into the river of mopeds and walk straight across as if it were nothing

      western tourists would stand at the side terrified at the prospect of stepping into such obvious danger

      the worst case was if someone got part-way across, panicked and stopped, whereupon the oncoming mopeds would have to suddenly brake and/or swerve because the pedestrian they had expected to keep walking suddenly stopped in front of them

      • John Kimble on 07/08/2020 - 10:55

        the worst case was if someone got part-way across, panicked and stopped, whereupon the oncoming mopeds would have to suddenly brake and/or swerve because the pedestrian they had expected to keep walking suddenly stopped in front of them

        Yep, I was guilty of that once. I hesitated for a split second and got a love tap from a confused/annoyed scooter rider. Luckily contact was very minimal.

  • keejoonc on 07/08/2020 - 10:32
    +1

    I'm 100% with the OP.

    Drives me nuts when people think they are being kind and considerate and stop for people or cars when they are not obligated by law to do so.
    I can understand when there are heavy congestion and very little movement in traffic but a lot of accidents happen because people don't follow the traffic rules.
    Classic example is when people in the inner lane of two lane road stop to let someone on the other side of the road turn into a street. The person turning thinks it's safe to turn because they are being given way by the other driver in the inner lane, but cars are still moving in the outer lane and result can be horrific.

    • Hangryuman on 07/08/2020 - 10:43

      wifey wants to show she loves and cares for the kids by stopping and waiting for them before they step onto the crossing - aw, how sweet, she obviously cares !

      hubby wants to teach the kids how to survive when wifey's not there - look out for oncoming vehicles, because they ain't all gonna stop for you

      on a street near me, a small girl was killed crossing the road - I presume she and accompanying adult had crossed against the lights - in a gap, to miss oncoming cars - but the little girl's hat blew off backwards - and she instinctively ran back to get it - where she was hit by the oncoming car - and killed

      guess she wasn't trained to be careful - stop, look, wait, watch out ! - for oncoming cars

      dunno what age you can expect kids to learn this kinda stuff - but kids learn every day - until they don't.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 07/08/2020 - 15:06
    +1

    I presume you mean kids are waiting to cross the street, but haven't started crossing… Ie. stepped off the curb

    If they've started crossing and there's the remote chance you are going to hit them, then of course stop.

    If they are just waiting, it can be very dangerous to stop and wave them across unless you are absolutely sure there's no other vehicles on the road in any direction. Kids will often look at you waving them across and forget to look for any other dangers…. Cars coming in the other direction, cars or motorcycles going around you because they don't know why you've stopped etc etc

    • juzz88 on 07/08/2020 - 16:58

      I think he is saying if they have started to cross he will slow down so as not to hit them, but won't come to a complete stop.

      Then proceed to give them a dirty look as he passes by. At least that's what I do… That'll teach them.

      • OzzyOzbourne on 07/08/2020 - 17:39

        Hmm, if they've already started to cross then I wouldn't risk hitting them to teach them a lesson. We don't have instant reactions and the car can't stop instantly… Maybe they've not seen the car, can't gauge its speed or distance, they might suddenly run or change direction. I wouldn't risk a kids life just because I think I should scare them into learning a lesson. We don't even take that approach with hardened criminals.

        Anyway, people don't learn from being dead

        • tomleonhart on 07/08/2020 - 18:11
          +1

          If they already on the tarmac, I stop. Was talking about kids looking for a gap to cross.

          To be honest, we all know kids are unpredictable hence why any sign of uncertainly already warrant a complete stop. Only if I know they’ve seen me then I proceed not to stop.

  • vitb1 on 07/08/2020 - 16:13

    I used to stop where I can until I read an article a few years ago (can't remember where exactly.. maybe an RAC magazine?).
    It was suggested that if you stop to allow a pedestrian (or even a car) to cross, cars behind you may not realise this is the reason you have stopped and may attempt to overtake, increasing the risk of the pedestrian being injured or the overtaking car causing an accident with on-coming traffic.

  • DiscoJango on 07/08/2020 - 17:39

    100% agree with OP, letting kids get away with bad habits teaches them thats normal and what to expect from the world. Its why so many of them get a shock when they step into the real world.

    No offence, but people like your wife is exactly why so many kids grow up to be such confused teenagers!

  • ChadHominem on 07/08/2020 - 18:07

    I grew up in a neighbourhood where people wouldn't stop to let kids cross the road. I learned to ALWAYS be cautious when crossing the road and I have no doubt that it made me a more attentive driver as well.

    Personally I don't think there's a black and white "correct" thing to do when kids are waiting to cross the road and it should always come down to your best judgment of the situation. It's dangerous to deal with absolutes and to try and impose a certain way of driving on other people with different levels of situational awareness and/or different driving styles.

    People that will always stop to let kids cross the road are just as bad as people that never stop out of principle. Both OP and his wife are aholes :)

  • jaimex2 on 07/08/2020 - 19:50

    But that's how it works in GTA…

  • EdieJ111 on 07/08/2020 - 20:44
    -5

    I think you're an ahole and that your wife is on the right track. You're in a secluded quiet area, not big city busy streets. You can afford the time to stop for the kids or anyone else for that matter. All you need to do as a parent is to teach your own kids how to safely cross a road, especially when there's no zebra, pedestrian lights.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2020 - 10:48
    -1

    i just use common sense…

  • tinmancactus on 08/08/2020 - 14:46

    When I learnt to drive, this is what I was told the law is:

    If they are already on the road, they have right of way regardless of whether or not they were lawfully crossing the road.

    If you injure or kill someone who was not crossing the road lawfully, you have failed to give way to pedestrians.

  • Kinko82 on 08/08/2020 - 19:44

    totally with you man. I feel there's this sense of entitlement that has been building up with kids and adults expecting drivers to stop for them once they establish the driver has seen them.

    I also blame drivers who stop and let people cross as contributors of the issue!

  • staffy321 on 08/08/2020 - 19:50

    One of the reasons we have road rules so we know what other cars or ppl are going to or surpsosed to do. When you stop in the middle of a street for no reason (that the car behind can see) it will cause grief sometimes. Saying that I try and let ppl cross if I can.

  • BobLim on 09/08/2020 - 21:42
    +1

    As a driver: I do what's written in the road rules, whether that's giving way or not. If someone stops randomly in front of me (or drives incredibly slowly) in a way that I'm fairly sure isn't in accordance with the rules, I use the horn (including pulling over without indicating, letting passengers in/out without pulling over, staying stopped when the light turns green to let someone illegally merge into the lane, etc)

    As a pedestrian:I do what's written in the road rules, and frankly I'm happy to come within about 20cm of having my foot run over by someone not giving way when turning in front of me into a road I'm crossing. Usually accompanied by a window knock, yelling or finger in those cases.

    Make of that what you will. Follow the rules and we can all be happy IMO.

    • John Kimble on 09/08/2020 - 22:14

      Technically it's illegal to use your horn for such purposes…😂

      http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_reg/rsrr20…

      • kiitos on 09/08/2020 - 23:00
        +1

        I'd say it's valid in this case - he's warning the car that is stopped on the road that he's approaching, in case they do something unpredictable like pulling out suddenly, opening the door suddenly, or their alighting passenger walking in the path of the car.

        Or at least, that would be my defense if pulled up by the police for using the horn.

      • BobLim on 10/08/2020 - 00:16
        +1

        I'm warning of the presence of my vehicle - driver in front has clearly forgotten that they're not the only person in the world, their actions impact others, and hopefully shows that I don't want them to randomly chuck it in reverse and floor it given their unpredictable behaviour at that point

        Edit: also in my experience, what follows a random mid-road stop is often enough a violent reversing or similarly unannounced u-turn

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