The green cross code of the 70s and 80s Versus today's parenting skills. Where did it all go wrong? 

I’m 65 and The Green Cross Road was drummed into me from a young age. BRING IT BACK, I AGREE WITH YOU 100% 👍👍👍

It’s a sad fact of modern life that it’s easier to blame somebody else instead of excepting responsibility for your own actions .

Some parents these days don’t seem to teach their children anything about road safety, even when they pick their children up from school they don’t hold the child’s hand because they’ve got their phone in their hand scrolling through.

I'm 21, and as a kid I remember there being adverts where creepily animated kids who were crippled on the road had to watch other children play, as the narrator told us in graphic detail how the kid got hit on the road by being dumb. I think if you search "Think! Road safety advert" you'll find them.

Bloody hell, walking out on an Allegro and trusting its brakes. Also kids if a celeb from the 70s suddenly appears run.

2:25 Ah, yes, David Prowse. "Luke....look both ways before crossing."

Ah! Yes the Tufty Club as well and don't forget there was cycling proficiency training in schools.

When those public service broadcasts were made, there was less traffic on the roads compared to now. It's common sense that people also lack as well.

A few months back my local Facebook group had a post on it which asked drivers not to stop and wave this lady and her children across the road. She said she could not teach her kids to cross the road properly if every car just stopped and waved them across. BTW her first words thanked all the drivers for stopping and pointed out nice friendly and thoughtful they were.

I'm a street cleaner working on foot. Based on how I've seen pedestrians crossing the road. I've often said I'm convinced some adults have a death wish

I was surprised to find they still teach the Green Cross Code at my local primary school, the teacher was dismayed that the issue was down to parents not reinforcing the teaching, it was just left to the school. I had Tufty the Squirrel as my PSA character...

Can you imagine if a man dressed in green and white lycra approached children in the street today....he'd be up in court on charges in no time. I am 53, I learned road safety from big D Prowse and here I am still alive

I remember the Green Cross code when I was a kid in the 80s. Just imagine how different Star Wars would have been if they'd used his voice hahaha 13:37 Love how the dogs have more common sense and keeping looking back like "uhmmm... there's like a big metal thing behind us?" Overall though I tend to err on the side of caution when I'm a pedestrian and not assume that just because I have right of way, that somehow means I can just put myself into any situation I like, no matter how dangerous or illogical it would be. I'm not inclined to risk my health just to prove a point.

Whatever the updated Highway Code states, as a pedestrian, I always lookout for and let vehicles pass before I cross the road. It's not much fun being in the "right" or making a point then spending the rest of your life in a wheelchair or worse. I'd rather be alive wrong than dead right.

I'm completely with you. Think I'm a similar age as you. I remember all those Green Cross Code adverts, but we were also taught it in school, back when I was a lad. I think some people just don't have any road sense. Great video, as always 👍

Daily I see parents dragging their kids across traffic, usually not far from a zebra crossing etc. Our diverse community in their sock and sliders even give you daggers. 😂

It's difficult to teach 'stupid', but it's almost impossible to teach 'self--entitled stupid'. Really good video by the way.

Brilliant presentation & thanks The London Dash Cam 🚕👍

I was brought up with the green cross code and cycling proficiency too. I have to totally agree with you with evrryth7ng you've said about pedestrians nowadays, I've almost hit a few because they've walked out when I've had a green light and they've had red man to not cross. So many youngsters heads down in phone. Earphones on and not even bothering to look but simply stepping out. You beep them and they look at you blanking and not understanding they shouldn't cross on red men. Drives me nuts too, even more dangerous for me when I am riding my motorcycle.

Piggin hell, forgot he had an R2D2 back then... how foreshadowing 😂

I distinctly remember Highway Code talks at my primary and junior schools back in the day. The recent rule changes regarding pedestrians and cyclists make no sense to me whatsoever. It seems to me that, since we came out of lockdown, some people have become more thoughtless and reckless in their actions. They do not realise that they they could quite easily lose their life or cause someone else to lose theirs. Keep up the good work!

I'm 68, so I relate! That were brilliant. Legalities aside, the fact is that most drivers - and pedestrians - who don't use their eyes while covering their ears need their head examined. Which will happen soon, probably in the ambulance ...

I think it went wrong with the advent of personal injury claims. Became too easy to blame someone else for your own stupidity and collect a nice payout. Drivers, being obliged to carry insurance, instantly became easy prey. In the same way, telling off a kid today would have seen Kevin Keegan, Alvin Stardust et al in court for "inappropriate contact" at the drop of a wig and gown.

Yes i am that old too. I am a driving instructor in Wales but started my instruction career many years ago in SE London. The standard of driving and especially pedestrians is going downhill fast. Bring back public information films Bye the way love your vlogs especially your rants its what i would love to do on my lessons with my trainees 😂😂

Wife and I walking the dog and had to pass to the left of a car half on half off the pavement. No engine noise so assumed to be parked and were very shocked when it moved off with the door mirror almost clipping me. As electric vehicles emit no engine noise I think there is a case for a (daytime) external chime to be activated when drive selected to warn pedestrians and cyclists of its' imminent movement.

I literally had a guy SIDESTEP into the road in front of me the other week. Fair enough I was on my bike so he didnt hear me coming, but in this day of hybrids and EVs it is extremely dangerous to cross the road just using your ears, which is what lots of pedestrians do. Fortunately Ive been cycling for years so was anticipating him doing this, as it was late and he gave me the slight impression of being drunk, but damn it was dangerous.

I'm 60 and the Green Cross Code was drummed into us.

We must take responsibility for our own action’s, yet now we must take responsibility for pedestrians as well while they walk around like zombies taking absolutely no notice of their surroundings, with their earphones and phone screens, it absolutely crazy. There is something wrong with this totally and absolutely.

Totally with you on the need for more, and updated education for pedestrians. I also admit to remembering the green cross code. Back then of course we were moving from an era of less car ownership into higher number of cars on the road and it was all about making sure pedestrians had good awareness. Now the issues are different, ie new Highway Code rules, much much more traffic, higher speeds, more complex road issues and of course, hand held devices. But the fundamental is the same, awareness education. Like you I believe it applies to everyone. I do feel that the government have really failed on road safety generally.

What always got me, even at the time, is that the cars magically disappeared where the Green Man/celebrity got the children to cross.

The London Dash Cam - do you remember Tufty The Squirrel with the road safety advice pre dating Dave Prowse and that white and green outfit?

The difference is...... Assuming people are parenting, which they are not. And haven't been for decades now....and the mobile phones issue is literally an addiction. 99% can't put them away for even 5 minutes much less when they are driving, shopping, eating in a restaurant..... It's pathetic really....

I remember those ads and I think we need them back because of some people's stupidity. Some of those public information films scared the hell out of me. Do you remember the grim reaper one at the lake with the voice over of Donald Pleasance and Building sites bite. Scared the sh*t out of me!

Got to say thanks for the look back; wonderful memories of happy times and great people. yes, notice how much nicer they were back then. More straightforward but nicer people that got their point across.

The sad thing is that if Joe Bugner did that today the response would be, "F---- Off you paedo." I am not joking.

Those who are slating you are the very same people who would be screaming if someone from their family got knocked down because of their own stupidity -

Glad you bought this up …

MY NEW FAVORITE POST - from a purely nostalgic pov. Everyone knows each new post is a new fav, especially with your colourful narration lol. Excellent job LDC, keep up the good work. 👌👌👌

4:28 now that pedestrians get priority in situations like that they don't care. i actually confused a new driver the other day when i stopped and waited to cross. they stopped and i looked behind me for a car to see who they had stopped for. they ended up going as i was looking and i caught a wave of thank you but it was only until i crossed i had realised they were following the new highway code and giving me priority lol

Great video!!! Yesterday I moved off from a parked position, in a narrow road, and suddenly just in front of me two female children just stepped into the road from behind a parked van to my right. They gave me a shock. Everyday people are involved in RTAs but the media don't report it because it is not on their agenda.

The "Green Cross Code" is new to me! I grew up in 1950s Australia, and we never had anything like that. It seems like a very good idea. When I started driving I do remember the theme "Drive to Survive", which of course can work for pedestrians as "Walk to Survive". It's all about taking responsibility for your actions, so I fully agree with this video.

I was born in '83 and we had the green cross code drilled into us at infant and junior schools. It's never left me either, father of two now and I still use the code walking them both to and from school every day. I don't do anything risky when it comes to the roads and I don't trust anyone.

"Sorry green cross" now days they would probably tell him to F- off, I totally agree about drivers having to look out for pedestrians safety, but everybody should be responsible for their own safety, we have enough to look out for with all the idiots around us in cars.

The real problem is SMOMBIES. A Smombie is a smartphone zombie, one of those ignorant, dangerous weirdo's that walk around, detached from their environment fannying about with their 'phone'. It's great when they bump into lamp-posts or fall down manholes but when they just stumble into you expecting YOU TO MOVE then they can just phuck right off. I'll bump into EVERY one of them until the message gets through........ It's also quite funny that no-one seems to have worked out that the fact they are clutching their device is a SIGN OF INSECURITY....

Excellent. A depressingly perceptive essay on modern mores as regards personal responsibility. Well done.

Extremely good video with a strong message - thank you

Excellent presentaion here. I have come to the conclusion that "mankind" (if I'm allowed to even say that these days) is in a state of devolution. I remember most of the clips and am also old enough to have attended/passed the Cycling Proficiency Course. I have no idea what Parents and Teachers are "teaching(?)" this generation but it clearly isn't on the lines of self-preservation nor taking responsibility for any of their actions. I suspect that too many people have become reliant on safety aids and disc brakes....... For example:- a Rover P5B; even though it has front disc brakes; takes a significant distance to stop and is likely to be double that of a modern vehicle. My reason for using this vehicle as an example is that I happen to own one. People expect me to stop on a sixpence...... It ain't happening 😮. Thanks for the trip down memory lane and let us hope that the Educational value gets spread far & wide. Stay safe out there, folks.

also had the Hedgehogs 1997-2010 so just outside a decade ago too

The approval of others on social media is way more important than conversing with their kids about how's their day been, did they learn anything interesting at school let alone teaching them life's basics. It's almost as though some are a bit thick, got lumbered with kids but hey ho, let's not let that interrupt me checking whether somebody liked my post or not. No wonder so many youngsters act up, it really is craving attention that they never get from the parents. 🤷 👍❤️🇬🇧

We've got to the point where people think they live in a consequence free environment and everything is everyone elses fault. Even in the case where pedestrians have priority, they still need to look and make sure the vehicle they are stepping in front of has seen them, and has time to stop. Oh, and yeah, I grew up with the Green Cross Code, and those creepy public information films : -)

Everything you said is 1000% true! Yes I remember The Green Cross Code ! Oh we must be the same age!

Yup, Stop, Look and Listen is also what I was taught. I fully understand that a driver has to give priority to a pedestrian, it can't be any other way otherwise cars would be allowed to just carry on and hit someone and obviously that cannot be allowed. That doesn't, however, diminish the responsibility of the pedestrian towards their own safety. Just as much as I have a responsibility towards the safety of a pedestrian crossing the road, the pedestrian also has a responsibility towards their own safety; one could argue even more so considering they are the ones that are going to come off worse in an accident. It's no good saying from your hospital bed, "But I had priority!"

How many Austin Allegro's where in the old films?

Kids were actually taught back then. I was astounded at how bad some people could be then. The number of people who I've nearly seen die in the last few years because they literally just walk out into the road without looking and only good brakes have saved their life. And don't get me started on people crossing roads with phones...

Hi from Sydney, Australia. Being 67 now, the NSW roads and traffic authority put controlled traffic lights at the foot crossing outside of our primary & infants school in 1965. They were a great novelty, they had a beeping and ticking device in the push button box for blind people so they knew what phase the lights were in but everyone used them as they totally dead stopped 4 lanes of cars so all the kids could cross in safety , and due to them being outside a school they had elongated timing , so they stayed red for triple the ordinary timing. Elderly locals loved them as if they were impaired with walking sticks etc they could cross with guaranteed safety. When it went wrong one day. in early 1967 it all went wrong one morning when a horrible older local woman felt she was above the law and with her flash new car did not need to stop at red lights even with kids crossing. NO WAY just blurt your horn and make them get out of the way or run them down. The she was the dreadful matriarch of a semi criminal family the police had been after for years, half jewish and half greek she was the jewish matriarch. Jumping and falling out of her way some kids had bad wounds on arms and legs, some had other injuries. Bad luck for her. Opposite Middle Harbour school in MacPherson St was a short loop end street Davidson Parade with a GPO pillar box in it with twice a day collection for all the school mail, the old Crown sergeant from Mosman police station had stopped in his divvy van to post some mail, he'd noticed me whistled & waved, he knew my grandparents. When the horrible woman did her trick at the foot crossing moments later he snipped his fingers to his driver to go after her in the big Ford F150 divvy van. These were like rockets 6.4litre/390ci green police spec engines 4.9 seconds to 60 mile per hour, her car was no match and going up the consistent gentle slope of MacPhersson St to Cremorne Junction, you could see the divvy van bunt the car off the road and into a tree. A teacher on both the east and west side of the crossing had witnessed her act, the two policemen had witnessed her act, and about 3 dozen kids on the crossing. Outcome. Upon inspection of the car when she had been there before she was taken away a revolver was found in the glove box & some other kind of incriminating evidence which gave the police a valid reason to obtain a search warrant for the family's business premises, she was charged with multiple accounts of attempted vehicular manslaughter. Giving her a longer custodial sentence than for any other activities. Police raids on their business harvested a host of other crimes. Shutting down her and her family's criminal efforts all because of her hopeless bad natured driving.

I grew up with the Hedgehogs, same message, plus a catchy tune!

I agree 100000000000 million %. In my day we were taught ll this and more in schools in the UK in the 60's n 70's. Even cycle proficeny tests in all schools for pupils who had a bike or access to a bike. In todays world i wonder so much how these people cope in todays busy and yet dangerous situations. From mobile zombies to drivers. I would also like to hear from these so called professional people in governent and other places why this i the case and why have they just chucked all COMMON SENSE under the bus...........

When I was teaching 16-20-year-olds with cognitive deficits, I taught them to walk in the crosswalks (zebra crossings), stop and look both ways, and to wait for any car to make eye contact with them and stop for them before walking in the road. They said they had the walk sign and therefore the right of way. I always asked them if they wanted to live or be dead right? As to why it is on the drivers now and not the pedestrians, the drivers have insurance and a license that can be gone after for money and pedestrians have neither. Mobile phones have only made the roads more dangerous for everyone. So many dumb ways to die!

I mean, I'm "only" 41, and I remember him and the whole Stop, Look, Listen. Ads that scare you to act properly are always effective. I've never played on train tracks, near pylons and have never crossed the road without looking. I have 3 kids, 2 are now adults, 1 is a teen in his own world, he has been taught how to cross, but my heart drops when I think of him not paying attention

One word - devolution

How wonderful old British television was

Tufty would have kicked the stuffing out of the wimpy green cross man.

Hi. I'm not a big fan of your channel and language etc. BUT.... You are 100% spot on. Bang on, with this weeks video. Where has the common sense gone? It's so easy to teach practical road crossing safety but it seems the lessons are not being taught anymore. Personal Responsibility. Two massive words. Thank You for hopefully bringing this to a wider audience.

I remember we had the 'King of the road' hedgehog adverts growing up!

So nice to hear Dave Prowse's own voice for a change in that last Green Cross Giant clip (with the robot). He was sadly dubbed over most of the time. Shout out to Tufty too - you did not include him but I remember being in the Tufty Club after learning about road safety in preschool back in the early 70s. Still take my own safety as a pedestrian very seriously, just as I was taught. Such a shame it's all gone to ruin now with everyone blaming everyone else when they're too selfish/stupid or just have no respect or pride in doing things right themselves!

Met Mr Prowse some years back, very nice man!

I remember the "Stop, Look, Listen" from childhood. Funnily enough, they've added "Think" now too, I guess it has to be explicitly said nowadays!

I find the best deterrent is a good reflective pair of glasses: When you're driving, make sure you wear a pair of glasses that hide your eyes. If it looks like someone is going to cross in front of you, or pull out in front of you, etc, keep looking forward, but turn your head to _imply_ you can't see them... You'd be surprised at just how many people actually stop when they really think you didn't see them at all.

without upsetting the system, Thatcherite Britain myself, it became about me, me, me rather than the community you live within

I agree something has changed over the years. Had to laugh when the old films say look for a place with out parked cars ..... When did you see a street without wall to wall parked cars.

I leanrt green cross code and to use a bike while learning at junior/comprehensive school in 70s/80s and I remember it well. Yes, I am about same age as LDC. What has gone wrong is simple, school government boards has cut costs and parents can't be bothered.

you need to be Minister for Transport - get it back to how it should be

Cellphone zombies I call em,being in a leccy wheelchair I carry a whistle to wake them up.....

When the new priority hierarchy came into being I thought, "British pedestrians will soon feel invincible and cross without looking just like that rare breed an American pedestrian."

I've had a few encounters with lemminglike pedestrians, One jumped over a wall in the rain as I was slowing for the roundabout just the other side of him, he slipped went to his knee's. He was not happy when I beeped at him. I also have a student run into the road infront of me, I had to jump on the brakes and I commented in a joking tone "Are you trying to die ?", she responded with "Aye". The most disturbing I've encountered were a pair of sisters who dashed out infront of myself purely to play "chicken" with me, I had my dad in the car with me and he had a word with them, which resulted in their mother Karening at him because her little Angels wouldn't do something like that. Nearly forgot another, I was waiting to pull out of a junction on a fairly busy road, so was looking to my right to spot a clear enough spot to pull out, I saw one and started to pull out only to shift my focus to the front of my car and had to instantly tromp on the brakes as there was someone walking across in front of the car.

really enjoyed this video, very interesting, and people of today do not know how to cross a road nowadays, when i cross a road at a crossing, after the green man it goes blank, that is when i don't cross, yes you have like 5 secs before it goes to a red man to a green light for the traffic to move but its called being smart, its like an amber light, an amber light like your driving a car, if you can stop on amber then you stop or take extra care

Totally agree with you , i think you will find the reason it all changed is because it's easier to prosecute the motorist and gain revenue

Idiots will soon meet their fate if they don’t pay attention. No great loss.

Someone crossing in front of you ? Dip the clutch and rev the engine. That makes them move. Wrong? Of course it is, but when they look you square in the eye end carry on with the 'what are you going to do about it' attitude, they need a little 'assistance'.

9:23 This one's my fav of the GCC PIFs.

OMG... do you guys also remember the "tufty" animation films in those public info films...That and the Green Cross Code was drilled into us as a kid !

I were taught green cross code in my school years in the mid 2000's. It's definitely gone down hill since then, around the mid 2010's I'd say it really started rolling. But for me it's always been in the highway code that I'm expected to stop or slow down, which ever is applicable to any given situation when a Pedestrian steps into the road, more for their safety than anything else

I remember - and still use in effect - the Green Cross Code from when I was younger, but the problem isn't that people don't know the rules, they know them fine well - if a car hits someone it's the drivers fault. Therein lies the problem

brilliant

I’m glad you shared the little gem that it was with Darth Vader❤️

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. I remember the green cross code and squirrel nutkin.

Great walk up call mate. You should send the video to politicians/road safety complainers ;) Yeah; where did it all go so wrong ? Maybe common sense became unfashionable Look to the right , look to the left , look to the right again ---- if all clear walk across the road -- never-ever run across the road . That's how I was taught LOL; those green blokes would be up on sexual assault charges these days 🤣 English kids would not live long on Australian roads where they have right away only at pedestrian crossing but not at round abouts . Mobile phones may save lives but mobile phones kill more than they save

Even though the Highway code details the hierarchy of priority of road users, with pedestrians at the top, rule H1 also states "None of this detracts from the responsibility of ALL road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, to have regard for their own and other road users’ safety."

Meow wow wow, Charlie says always look both ways before crossing the road.

David Prowse was the green cross code man and that is NOT him speaking, he has a strong Yorkshire accent. He did speak in the robot advert. The highway code is only a code of practice, you can not be prosecuted under the highway code.

As you may have figured out from my previous comments, part of my day is spent monitoring parking. There are times I cross the road away from crossings, sometimes not that far from the crossings, so I could easily be considered part of this problem. However I too was brought up with those green cross code adverts, and even though I use a hand held device to issue notices and collect evidence, while crossing the street I am focused on doing so safely. Yes I want to get to my next offence, but I can't do that if I've just been run over due to a lack of care on my behalf.

I'm just wondering if people these days get the January 2022 highway code updates wrong and think they can do just what they want, when and where they want when they want to cross, it might explain whey people cross in the most dangerous manner you can think of, anyway as you rightly point out we need the green cross code hammering in to people before they get hurt, it's about time the authorities were putting the green cross code and other highway code information on the TV as they did in the 70s and 80s, then maybe people will stop putting themselves in so much danger. Oh, one other thing, someone recently (AKA, my wife) said to me, I don't need to read the highway code as I don't drive, how wrong can you be, I pointed to her the highway code is for everyone to be safe on the roads from drivers to pedestrians horse riders and cyclists in other words everyone in the country need to read it.

40 years ago, ''Always use the green cross code'' Today, ''Always use the green cross code'' ... Because there's always going to be an AUDI 😎🤣

Well, what changed is that someone decided that pedestrians and bicycles no longer need to take responsibility for themselves. Legally they are never in the wrong.

I'm with you all the way we need to bring this back the older people are the worse they don't give a hoot

Most famous quotation from the 20th century was Oliver Hardy's, "Now see what you've made me do !"

I’m 36 and I remember the green cross code being drilled into us back at primary school in the mid-late 90s too. I wonder when they stopped teaching it?

The onus has changed to be the burden of the driver because they have had a competency assessment, where pedestrians are clearly not competent. Remember you cannot teach common sense and stupid is as stupid does

I think it's telling that those Green Cross ads have kids that are 7 or 8 walking on their own ... there was nothing unusual about that back then. Fast forward and my sister (who was that age at that time) is paranoid about not letting her teenage kids walk anywhere and as a result they expect to get ferried everywhere. This produces the double whammy of low pedestrian skills and more car traffic.

With the lack of alertness of some drivers these days, the pedestrians should be looking out for themselves, but alas they don't. It seems nobody gives a shit about anybody else, and this is from an Audi and Land Rover driver, but drive them properly.