"I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road"

In this quote, Stephen Hawking is mentioning the irony of people who think in predestination, or the idea that whatever in life is predetermined and can not be altered. Regardless of their belief in fate, these individuals still exhibit care and look both ways before crossing the roadway. This suggests that even those who claim to have no control over their lives still have a natural instinct to protect themselves and avoid risk. Hawking may be indicating that while some things might be predetermined, we still have the capability to choose and do something about it that can impact our lives.