Would you...

**Iccz** · 01-07-2009, 1:44 PM

...hold up traffic for a Duck with her Ducklings while they cross the road, regardless of how busy the road is and how many cars behind you were bashing their horns?

Someone in the office said they waited while the ducks crossed the road and a number of cars behind were quite unhappy to say the least about it.

I know some people can do dangerous things when trying to avoid animals on the road, but I don't think that it's dangerous to stay stopped once you were already stopped to wait while something gets out the way. Inconsiderate to others around perhaps...

What would you do?
Also is there anything in the law/highway code about such things?

Devil On Your S · 01-07-2009, 1:45 PM

Same thing happened to me in Ruskington last week, I was a few cars back. Nobody seemed to mind the two cars letting them through, was quite a serene moment I though.

*Wild Weasel* · 01-07-2009, 1:54 PM

I've stopped for ducks before. The idiots getting irate probably couldn't see why the car had stopped.

Jenn · 01-07-2009, 1:56 PM

Well what's one to do? Start and drive over the poor animals?? No way !
They can beep all they like, I would just put the music up

eric pisch · 01-07-2009, 1:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenn

Well what's one to do? Start and drive over the poor animals?? No way !
They can beep all they like, I would just put the music up

bundle them in the boot and then look for some orange sauce

**Iccz** · 01-07-2009, 2:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Weasel

I've stopped for ducks before. The idiots getting irate probably couldn't see why the car had stopped.

I've often been stuck behind cars that have been stopped and wondered why they're not going anywhere, I don't quickly jump to the horn though there are a number of possible reasons why they might be stopped so I do try assess why, and give them a little time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenn

Well what's one to do? Start and drive over the poor animals?? No way !
They can beep all they like, I would just put the music up

Absolutely agree, you can't expect someone to run them over, but it does make you wonder why so people are so horn crazy and if anyone is actually ever pressured by other drivers to act irrationally.

*TheTrancelator* · 01-07-2009, 2:04 PM

I'd just invision myself in grand theft auto.. what would Niko do.....

On a serious note, i'd wait - i don't drive but i wouldnt give a monkeys about drivers behind me to be honest.. can hardly run over them

unless you could go around them

krish · 01-07-2009, 2:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iccz

... a number of cars behind were quite unhappy to say the least about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Weasel

The idiots getting irate probably couldn't see why the car had stopped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenn

They can beep all they like, I would just put the music up

it's beakause they're a bit daffy ... they should see a quack

**Iccz** · 01-07-2009, 2:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krish

it's beakause they're a bit daffy ... they should see a quack

I don't know why but that made me smile, and somehow it got a thanks

Urien Rheged · 01-07-2009, 2:50 PM

I'd stop (carefully).

**Iccz** · 01-07-2009, 2:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urien Rheged

I'd stop (carefully).

He was already stopped for traffic lights at a pedestrian crossing, then when the lights turned he was still waiting for the ducks.

Dony · 01-07-2009, 2:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iccz

He was already stopped for traffic lights at a pedestrian crossing, then when the lights turned he was still waiting for the ducks.

Very considerate ducks to use the crossing

I'd have sat as well, and maybe stuck the hazzard lights on.

Decadence · 01-07-2009, 2:56 PM

Definitely stop and wait...if people beeped at me...well...I kind of get angry when that happens. Like this morning, the guy in front (BMW) dumped half a cup of coffee out of his window and all over the front of my car. Traffic jam 3 miles later I get out and empty a full can of Pepsi Max over his bonnet. That's going to be sticky on a black car in hot weather isn't it?

I thought that was progress in my anger management situation because I didn't just punch him!

**Iccz** · 01-07-2009, 2:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dony

Very considerate ducks to use the crossing

I'd have sat as well, and maybe stuck the hazzard lights on.

Wonder if they pressed the button themselves...

The hazzard lights could work but that could also encourage people to either try get around you or to come try help push your car out the way, I'm guessing the first one

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decadence

Definitely stop and wait...if people beeped at me...well...I kind of get angry when that happens. Like this morning, the guy in front (BMW) dumped half a cup of coffee out of his window and all over the front of my car. Traffic jam 3 miles later I get out and empty a full can of Pepsi Max over his bonnet. That's going to be sticky on a black car in hot weather isn't it?

I thought that was progress in my anger management situation because I didn't just punch him!

One step at a time mate, one step at a time!

Urien Rheged · 01-07-2009, 3:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iccz

He was already stopped for traffic lights at a pedestrian crossing, then when the lights turned he was still waiting for the ducks.

I would too.
I think anyone who would drive over them is sick in the head and needs help.

**Iccz** · 01-07-2009, 3:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urien Rheged

I would too.
I think anyone who would drive over them is sick in the head and needs help.

The worrying thing is, there will be people out there who possibly would, as long as they go to where they wanted on time.
I've seen too many times animals, including cats that have been hit by cars and the driver not even stop to check if it had a name tag / phone number etc on it.

Some people seem to not care a single bit about animals that are in the road

Personally i'd always, where safe, try to avoid hitting any animal in the road, even if it did mean waiting a few minutes at the lights etc.

Dony · 01-07-2009, 3:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iccz

Wonder if they pressed the button themselves...

The hazzard lights could work but that could also encourage people to either try get around you or to come try help push your car out the way, I'm guessing the first one

Yeah...it would depend on the road and circumstances as to whether or not I'd put the hazzards on.....maybe on a country road where I'd could block it totally.

AJUK · 01-07-2009, 3:34 PM

I've nearly spun off the road swerving around a squirrel twice ! I suppose it's just instinct. To actually intetionally drive over some ducklings when you're already stopped is nailed on cruelty to animals.

**Iccz** · 01-07-2009, 3:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJUK

I've nearly spun off the road swerving around a squirrel twice ! I suppose it's just instinct. To actually intetionally drive over some ducklings when you're already stopped is nailed on cruelty to animals.

Why did you swerve round it twice, were you trying to prove a point to it or something?

eL-ZilCHo! · 01-07-2009, 4:48 PM

What else could you do? Crush them? No... I'd wait.

**** the people beeping their horns, what are they going to do?

Ned Senior · 01-07-2009, 5:01 PM

Some people blurt there horns even seconds after the lights go green if someone is a bit slow taking off... there really are some wound up dickheads on the road.. I personally would have stopped as indeed I do even if it is just a pidgeon in the road

shodan · 01-07-2009, 7:07 PM

I'd like to think I would wait for the ducks but....

On the other hand I know a man who did have a duck and family of ducklings after her waddle out into the road in front of him. He didn't stop...

Deadringers · 01-07-2009, 10:22 PM

i would run them over.

Monarch · 01-07-2009, 10:35 PM

I'd wait, I don't see how you couldn't!...but I wouldn't be annoyed by the drivers behind who were honking, because I would know that I was annoying them, I would actually take pleasure in annoying those people (this shows what kind of person I am!

). If they can't wait for ducks then maybe I'll just get out and take a photo of the ducks after they've crossed, just to annoy those people a little bit more

**Steven** · 01-07-2009, 10:40 PM

Yeah like was said, people just cannot see what was happening. What would someone really do? Accelerate?

Was at Richmond Park on a trip today. Deer and fawn crossing the road. All cool (well except maybe their apparent disregard for their own safety). Casual like star-crossed teens

Knyght_byte · 02-07-2009, 5:59 AM

not had it with ducks, but have had it with cats, foxes and other animals as I live towards the edges of London so plenty of greenery around. also do it for old ladies and disabled folks too.

nothing more fun than standing in the road laughing at angry beeping drivers whilst who/whatever finishes crossing the road.

being 6ft and of a rather large build, they never seem to get past the beeping point with me.....I remember one day a bloke (standard height and skinny) was helping shoo a cat across the road that had stopped halfway through fright and one of the drivers got out of his car and made towards the pedestrian angrily.....pedestrian took out a largish knife and the driver went back to his car VERY quickly and sat very quietly until the pedestrian was happy the cat was safe...lol

technoman28 · 02-07-2009, 9:03 AM

Where I live we have a small lake that is divided in two by the road. the lake has what seems like hundreds of swans, ducks, Canada geese, and other birds. On numerous occasions they cross from one side of the lake, over the road to the other side of the lake. I have never seen anyone getting annoyed or sounding their horn while waiting for them to cross. There are "duck crossing" signs at each end of the road.

The ducks tend to wander all over the place, even to the local shopping centre, everyone looks out for them, and I haven't seen any "run over". As for the swans, they are the masters, you don't mess with them. They want to cross the road, you sit there and wait!

Stockholm · 02-07-2009, 9:45 AM

Anybody running them over on purpose needs help. What's so important that they can't wait for a moment to allow a family of beautiful creatures to cross the road?

Anyway, when my friend passed his test about ten years ago he was driving his gf home one night when a fox ran in front of his car. He says he was too scared to swerve because he feared he might lose control and crash the car, injuring himself and his gf.

He kept going and claims he hit the fox's head. When he looked in his rear view mirror he says he could see the fox's decapitated head rolling down the road.

When he got to the next set of lights the car that was behind him when he hit the fox pulled up next to him. He thought the person was going to go mental at him for not swerving to avoid the fox, but instead the person rolled down his window gave him the thumbs up and was laughing his head off. Sick.

W0LFIE · 02-07-2009, 9:56 AM

I've stopped for swans before, then I recognised the bloke who'd stopped on the other side. He was a taxi driver that had driven me all the way from Nottingham to London for free when his taxi company accepted liability for me missing my train. Our journey turned out to be a right laf and we solved all the problems in the world.

Anywayz we had a right good chin wag whilst chaperoning the swans across the road & I got to meet his wife & kids too. A lovely time was had by all.

aaarrr.

My boss on the other hand once raced to an airport at 6am, as he left his village and went over a bridge he heard 'ppht, ppht, pppht, pppht, pppht, pppht, pppht'
He was in such a rush he thought nothing of it.
When he returned the huge kafoor as to who was responsible for running over and beheading an entire family of ducks from the village pond was still a mystery 2 weeks after it had happened. It had even been front page news of the village Gazette!
He immediately checked his car and ... you guessed it.... there were feathers stuck in the grill.
To this day he's never owned up.

ste v p · 02-07-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W0LFIE

I've stopped for swans before, then I recognised the bloke who'd stopped on the other side. He was a taxi driver that had driven me all the way from Nottingham to London for free when his taxi company accepted liability for me missing my train. Our journey turned out to be a right laf and we solved all the problems in the world.

Anywayz we had a right good chin wag whilst chaperoning the swans across the road & I got to meet his wife & kids too. A lovely time was had by all.

aaarrr.

My boss on the other hand once raced to an airport at 6am, as he left his village and went over a bridge he heard 'ppht, ppht, pppht, pppht, pppht, pppht, pppht'
He was in such a rush he thought nothing of it.
When he returned the huge kafoor as to who was responsible for running over and beheading an entire family of ducks from the village pond was still a mystery 2 weeks after it had happened. It had even been front page news of the village Gazette!
He immediately checked his car and ... you guessed it.... there were feathers stuck in the grill.
To this day he's never owned up.

My dad was on holiday driving through Scotland on a country road and rounded a corner to discover (all too late) a mother leading her ducklings across the road. The mother reached the other side but unfortunately none of the ducklings did. He was absolutely devastated even though there was nothing he could have done. To make matters worse, he got teased all week and one of his mates managed to buy a toy duck and bandage it up like pudsey the bear!

I stop for ducks back home quite regularly as a guy nearby owns some and just lets them roam the streets. It adds to the quaint village feel.

On the other hand, I have been known to beep at cars when they don't go on the green light. It's usually when the lights are timed and I know there's only enough time for 4 or 5 cars to get through. if you miss them, you'll be there for a couple of minutes waiting for the next green light. However, I think most of the time they just aren't paying attention.