Crossing the road at a busy spot in Melbourne, I don't expect much leeway from cars in traffic. In fact I don't want people to stop to let me go if it could risk a change in speed and traffic conditions as that could cause an accident.

I'm crossing at Kew Junction back a bit from the lights as it can get a bit quieter there. Kew Junction can be pretty manic as it's one of those 5 street intersections vs the standard 4, though this one of the 5 in particular is the most consistent in it's quiet spots. It's all clear on the near side of road to the median strip that is nice and wide and safe to stand while finding a gap to cross the other side so I head across.

As I do, cars are lining up on the other side of the street, stopped at the red light, from the lights back to where I'm standing waiting to walk between them. I take zero risk in this situation as a standard and wait until the line of cars I'm going to walk between, completely stops. As the car comes to a halt just to my right another approaches that would form the other car I walk between to cross the other side.

And as it does, the driver does something special.

It slows as it approaches, and very early in the piece, not just to allow a standard gap you might to a car in front but it's communicating something to me. Clearly the driver has seen me, seen that I'm wanting to cross and whilst they didn't have to, they are really making a point of leaving a large gap, slowing to a stop well back from the car in front to say 'it's ok, here's some space you are safe to cross.'

I got such a kick out of it.

There were no other cars approaching in the other lanes so I proceeded to cross. I waved and smiled profusely. Then I thought, how cool is this, I can't even see them inside due to the sun and reflection, I'll likely never meet them in real life, but here we are interacting, their kindness greatly received, making my day.