Why have people stopped jay walking?

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LukasKhan_UK@reddit

Since when have us Brits referred to it as Jay Walking?

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petet45@reddit (OP)

If you’re going to be a pedant, it’s “we Brits”.

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LukasKhan_UK@reddit

Was being pedantic, just it's very much an American term. And it's 100% legal in the uk

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petet45@reddit (OP)

My point was that it appears not to be a thing any longer. Sorry for the Americanism I assumed people would know what it meant.

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codechris@reddit

jay walking? This is AskUK not AskUS

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petet45@reddit (OP)

I don’t think we have a word for it do we?

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TheBestBigAl@reddit

Isn't it just "crossing the road"?

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Mindless-Western-772@reddit

no crossing a road dangerous is jaywalking

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Do we need one? It doesn't exist in the UK. Unless it's a motorway or Special Road then pedestrians have the right to pass and repass along the highway as they please, as long as they are not causing an obstruction.

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benh2@reddit

Because it’s not an offence here.

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Mr-Incy@reddit

You were brought up to disregard road safety measures? Or did you and your mates just ignore them, I would be very surprised if a parent teaches their child they don't have to follow the safety measures and guidance and to just run across the road in front of traffic. I was also raised in the last century and also remember the Green Cross Code man and all the PSA's that were on the TV. I know not many people are aware, but in 2022 there were changes to the highway code and now pedestrians have right of way when it comes to crossing the road, it doesn't matter if it is on a junction, roundabout or straight bit of road, traffic must give them priority and stop to allow them to cross..

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petet45@reddit (OP)

This is how it has always worked. I get to a red light, I look right and left and if it’s clear I cross but these days I leave all the younger folk standing there. I understand the point around children and if there is a child at the crossing, I wait.

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Mr-Incy@reddit

That is what I thought you meant but you didn't put it in your opening comment, which then made it look like you were saying people just walk across the road regardless. Maybe the ones you are seeing are simply following the rules, waiting for the green man and using that time to stare at their phone.

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tmstms@reddit

I agree with /u/YouCantThinkStraight People have phones and also easy access to music on the go. That is especially true of young people, so if you have to wait for the lights to change, you don't really feel inconvenienced, you can simply check your feed or carry on listening to your tunes.

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petet45@reddit (OP)

Thanks for a sensible answer. I think you are right.

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knight-under-stars@reddit

Jay walking does not exist in the UK. I'm not sure how disrespecting road safety measures can ever be seen as healthy.

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petet45@reddit (OP)

Bless you.

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BrightBlue22222@reddit

I wonder how localised this is. To be honest, when I'm commuting to work in Edinburgh in the morning, the only people I see actually standing and waiting for the lights to change are tourists.

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petet45@reddit (OP)

Maybe it’s a Southern thing

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New_Expectations5808@reddit

No, it's just you.

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petet45@reddit (OP)

So my crossing on red caused other people to stop. That’s almost a super power.

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CheeryBottom@reddit

As a German, you’re very welcome. My next lesson is: Beach Towels - How to claim the sun loungers before the British wake up!

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Kat8844@reddit

Peak efficiency!.

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Gryeg@reddit

Germany's national sport and should be picked as an olympic sport.

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HowCanYouBanAJoke@reddit

Bit like asking us why do none of us use our right to bare arms?

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windtrees7791@reddit

In the summer I do like to have bare arms, helps with the old sun tan, so it does.

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HowCanYouBanAJoke@reddit

That's how you can spot a Brit in a civilised country, no top.

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windtrees7791@reddit

I found a cool way to get bare arms without removing the whole top, just cut the sleeves off a jumper, either at the elbow or if you're particularly adventurous, the shoulder. I've heard tell of a thing called a T-shirt or even a Vest, but never seen one in the wild.

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HowCanYouBanAJoke@reddit

Sounds like a homemade wifebeater, we really are importing American customs.

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Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit

Well there are about double the amount of cars on the road than there were in the 80s, so there's that.

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Enriched_Wisp@reddit

Not got our jaywalking licence yet m8

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YouCantThinkStraight@reddit

technically we've never had jay walking as it's not illegal here or a thing, but i get what you mean. It's because of phones or technology in my opinion, people have music on or distracted by phones it's easier to wait for the green man and continue on your phone, than it is to check traffic and run across. Plus lots of cultures here now where crossing the road without permission isn't the done thing.

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petet45@reddit (OP)

Sensible answer.

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Eastern_Canary2150@reddit

Do you know who I am? Jay Walking. Who? Jay Walking.

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windtrees7791@reddit

Everyone is far too busy for a spot of the old jay walking nowadays, I for one think you can't beat a good old jay walk.

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ross_ns7f@reddit

This made me lol irl

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Pale_Slide_3463@reddit

Really don’t trust cars these days anymore

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setholynsk@reddit

This is the answer, I wait until they've come to a complete halt before even thinking about crossing

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Either-Equivalent314@reddit

in the UK pedestrians have right of way by default unless stated otherwise, so it doesn’t exist

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SmartHomeDaftOwner@reddit

We learned that we don't bounce that well.

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lubbockin@reddit

20 years ago the fashion was to just blithely walk out into the traffic and nake an ugkt dace expecting the driver to stop because you're 14.

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AF_II@reddit

Road traffic accidents (or rather: drivers) are a very significant killer of young people. It feels like pedestrian and cyclist injuries and/or deaths have sky rocketed. I've never known drivers to be so aggressive and violent and utterly disregarding of the needs of more vulnerable road & pavement users in many decades of being on the UK roads. *I* am being more cautious now, good on younger people for keeping themselves safe.

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