[w00pla]

I came year wanting to say exactly the same thing.

I walk each day past a primary school and all kids arrive unassisted. There are however teachers welcoming them at the gates and one police officer at the road crossing. But other than that they are on their own.

In Japan, motorcar drivers actually seem scared of pedestrians. I have difficulty crossing the road. In my country you usually stand still beside the road and wait for the cars to pass (for an opening). Here if you even look like you want to cross the road at some point in the future, the cars stop.

[StavrosK]

Haha yeah, I can imagine that poor tourists coming to Greece from the UK are in for a surprise. We are such shit drivers, but over here (London) if you see a car coming and wait by the sidewalk for it to pass, they stop and let you through. I mean, it'd just be faster for both of us if you continued at normal speed, then I wouldn't have to wait for you to slow down!

[w00pla]

Yeah, my country has worse drivers than Greece (trust me).

Here is how I cross the road in Japan: I wait at a place that I want to cross, but I turn my body away from the road. That way they think I am just standing there and drive past (instead of awkwardly stopping, etc...).

A lot of Japanese people that I've talked to don't have driving licenses. One person specifically said that it was because she was afraid of hurting others. That is quite different from my country's SUV style entitlement.

[StavrosK]

Haha, yes, I've heard that some places (like Nigeria, I think?) have absolutely horrible drivers. I've never been, though, so I can't tell!

[alexandros]

I had the exact same experience coming to London from Athens. I was in absolute shock that cars were stopping for me to pass when I was at a pedestrian crossing. You can't even stand near a crossing without having cars stop, just in case. Of course this only makes it worse when I go back home, and get more and more irritated at the apparent invisibility of pedestrians..

Come to think of it, I didn't think there was another Greek HNer in London, this is definitely worth a beer. Drop me an e-mail, or come to the next HN meetup this Thursday.

[StavrosK]

Ah, unfortunately I'm leaving this week :/ I'm going back home to be disappointed at our road manners :P I've been here a year, that's unfortunate... Thanks for the offer, though!

[alexandros]

Unfortunate indeed. Have a good time at home, and don't forget to look both ways while crossing the street! :)

[StavrosK]

Ah, don't worry about that, it's Greece, nobody goes on foot :P

I'll send you some sun!

[malkia]

Hello neighbour! Same in Bulgaria, and I'm sure other Balkan countries are no different (no offense).

In China there was a story about retired professor that took care of that - by striking the cars with brick.

[StavrosK]

Hey neighbour! Yeah, I think pretty much our entire area is like that :/