I've just popped to the supermarket to buy wine and sweets (already have coffee), and watched another near death experience of some french pedestrian. When I was a kid in the UK, we had constant adverts with this guy called the Green Cross Code man (there's another vague memory of being taught to cross the road by squirrels, but that could be a false memory or a dream or something - I mean, what do squirrels know about roads!). Anyway, as every brit of my generation knows, the green cross code guy was played by the actor who later played Darth Vader, but they dubbed his voice because he was from Cornwall or somewhere like that, and Ooh arrh the force be strong with ye doesn't sound very scary. So, we were regularly brain washed on tv to stop, look and listen before leaving the curbside, don't step into the road until it's clear etc.

Here in France it's a completely different tactic. Your average Parisien strides purposely out into the road for 3 or so paces, looking straight ahead, and then takes a quick glance sideways (maybe) to see if death is coming quickly in a 6 seater Renault Espace (which it invariably is). Some people then take a step back (not back to the curb in a flailing mess as we would do), but most don't, and stand their ground toreador style.

If another pedestrian then approaches to cross at the same spot, the first guy has already annexed the first base camp of the road, and so the second pedestrian can go a little further into the road. With enough luck and body count, they can usually break through even the busiest road or freeway.

Why do they do this? I'm at a complete loss. I wonder whether the children of France have a tv caped crusader to help teach them how to cross a road, but they probably don't. And even if they did they wouldn't have seen it since tv is never watched here anyway since it only ever shows Celine Dion and interminable chat shows (ah, a topic for another day!). Apparently France has one of the worst pedestrian accident rates in Europe, although that's a totally unqualified fact. Possibly I misheard over the loud bar music that it ought to have the worst rate rather than actually has, but whatever.

Anyway, to wrap up, you can always tell who are the Germans here. They the ones still standing on the curb when there's not a car in sight because the crossing light is still showing a red man. Apparently in Germany if you get caught crossing when it's green you get points taken off your driving license, and if you cross against a red light everyone assumes you've already lost your license due to drink driving. (ok, I made the drinking bit up, but it's true about losing points, and it's true you can spot a german a mile off since they really really do wait until it's a green man. Long long after the french stormed the other side and removed the injured and dying...).