Sorry, no sympathy for the guy here.
Looking to make sure that it's safe before you cross the street has nothing to do with manners. It has to do with being careful and using some common sense, which might save your life some day. What the motorist did was what people used to do in the "good old days" when everybody looked out for each other's kids, and that sometimes included giving parental advice, even if it isn't your kid that you're lecturing to.
Well, at least you picked the right nickname...
It doesn't matter how stupid the guy was. What matters is whether he is a sex offender or not since that is the punishment that was imposed. Are you arguing that he was actually inent on sexually abusing her and is therefore a sex offender and the punishment is just? If not, he deserves sympathy no matter how stupid he is.