I do it and I’ve seen so many other people do it… that funny little run that is done when a car slows or stops to let someone walk across in front of it, say at a crossing or junction, or in a car park, or almost anywhere that cars and people are together. The car has stopped and the driver has waved the pedestrian to walk safely in front of it, often with a smile, and a friendly expression. The car is not going to suddenly accelerate, the driver is not going to run the pedestrian over, but the person on foot seems compelled to do a funny little run; it is not a full on dash or sprint, it may only last a few steps and certainly makes no difference at all in how long the driver has to wait apart from maybe a couple of seconds.
Today I was in a carpark at a service station and observed a driver slow and stop for a tall man to cross over to the facilities; the tall man gave a friendly salute of thanks and just strode out, walked straight across the lane with no funny little run. I was lost in admiration! He’d had no compulsion to make a token trot, or even break his stride to do a little skip… I resolved that next time some kind driver lets waits for me to cross in front of him or her, I will say thanks and just walk to the other side!
Lois Elsden 