4 ms·

I walk a lot and the times where I've been nearly hit by a car have ALWAYS been at crosswalks and traffic lights (where the pedestrian light is green and cars s

by cletus 16y ago

I walk a lot and the times where I've been nearly hit by a car have ALWAYS been at crosswalks and traffic lights (where the pedestrian light is green and cars should be stopping). Crosswalks are a problem because you can't predict car behaviour: some will stop. Some will completely ignore them (for reasons unknown). If there were no crosswalk you know exactly what cars will do. That's much safer for both parties. The "illusion of safety" is most dangerous at traffic lights. 2-3 times I've had cars just sail through, completely oblivious. Note: they're sailing through on RED lights. Not amber going red. It's not one of those borderline cases. Once I had a cop have a chat to me about jaywalking but I've never been fined. I would be pissed if I ever was. In a fight between a car and a pedestrian the pedestrian loses (big time) so pedestrians have a higher vested interest in their own safety. I know what the light changes are at intersections I cross a lot. Where are these cops when cars sail through red lights or nearly run over pedestrians when turning when the pedestrians have right of way? I get the distinct impression these skills will come in handy when I move to New York next month! Anyway, back to the self-driving cars: this I believe will be a painful transition that will take many, many years. It's nice to see Google working on this.

dedward 16y ago
WHere I live the govenrment is putting up big fences in the middle of the road to prevent jaywalking, because people sprint across roads at night, even the highway, and there are lots, lots, lots of car -vs- pedestrian accidents because of people running across the street to catch a bus instead of using hte pedestrian bridge or crosswalk not far away. At night. Wearking dark clothing. (No, I'm not making any of this up)
jeff18 16y ago
"Once I had a cop have a chat to me about jaywalking but I've never been fined. I would be pissed if I ever was. In a fight between a car and a pedestrian the pedestrian loses (big time) so pedestrians have a higher vested interest in their own safety" Look at how many people drive off cliffs, into trees, or into other cars when a deer runs across the road. Vested interests in safety aside, it's always dangerous to do something unexpected in traffic.
bostonvaulter2 16y ago
I really wish that cars had front brake lights so that pedestrians could see when a car is most likely stopping.
queensnake 16y ago
Pedestrians rule in NYC, at least on upper Broadway, ie Harlem. Crowds will cross, disregarding the state of any light. Just stay in the middle.
scotty79 16y ago
That http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_turn_on_red http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_turn_on_red is the source of almost all dangerous situations I had on the roads as pedestrian. The one single time when cause was different that I can remember was when somebody drove in one way street in wrong direction and I was crossing the road assuming that this was impossible.
- Naga 16y ago
  Where I recently moved to there are a lot of one way streets. I feel stupid looking to see if anyone is turning down the wrong way, but what you described is exactly why I do.
- siculars 16y ago
  There is no right turn on red in NYC.
sbov 16y ago
> Once I had a cop have a chat to me about jaywalking but I've never been fined. I would be pissed if I ever was. In a fight between a car and a pedestrian the pedestrian loses (big time) so pedestrians have a higher vested interest in their own safety. I know what the light changes are at intersections I cross a lot. Where are these cops when cars sail through red lights or nearly run over pedestrians when turning when the pedestrians have right of way? So pedestrians can do whatever they want because its more dangerous for them? Did you know that a flashing red hand means "don't walk"? You can be ticketed by entering the crosswalk when it is flashing. How many of your close calls would that eliminate? As a driver, what is your first instinct when you see someone in the middle of your path on the road? I also hate people who jaywalk onto medians - how do I know they're going to stop when they get there? Especially if they're running at full speed. I've also had several pedestrians almost jaywalk right out infront of my car before, some not noticing me until I honked at them (too close to stop). We would all be safer if we all followed the rules. Not just cars.

by cletus 16y ago

dedward 16y ago

WHere I live the govenrment is putting up big fences in the middle of the road to prevent jaywalking, because people sprint across roads at night, even the highway, and there are lots, lots, lots of car -vs- pedestrian accidents because of people running across the street to catch a bus instead of using hte pedestrian bridge or crosswalk not far away. At night. Wearking dark clothing. (No, I'm not making any of this up)

jeff18 16y ago

"Once I had a cop have a chat to me about jaywalking but I've never been fined. I would be pissed if I ever was. In a fight between a car and a pedestrian the pedestrian loses (big time) so pedestrians have a higher vested interest in their own safety" Look at how many people drive off cliffs, into trees, or into other cars when a deer runs across the road. Vested interests in safety aside, it's always dangerous to do something unexpected in traffic.

bostonvaulter2 16y ago

I really wish that cars had front brake lights so that pedestrians could see when a car is most likely stopping.

queensnake 16y ago

Pedestrians rule in NYC, at least on upper Broadway, ie Harlem. Crowds will cross, disregarding the state of any light. Just stay in the middle.

scotty79 16y ago

That http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_turn_on_red http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_turn_on_red is the source of almost all dangerous situations I had on the roads as pedestrian. The one single time when cause was different that I can remember was when somebody drove in one way street in wrong direction and I was crossing the road assuming that this was impossible.

Naga 16y ago
Where I recently moved to there are a lot of one way streets. I feel stupid looking to see if anyone is turning down the wrong way, but what you described is exactly why I do.
siculars 16y ago
There is no right turn on red in NYC.

sbov 16y ago

> Once I had a cop have a chat to me about jaywalking but I've never been fined. I would be pissed if I ever was. In a fight between a car and a pedestrian the pedestrian loses (big time) so pedestrians have a higher vested interest in their own safety. I know what the light changes are at intersections I cross a lot. Where are these cops when cars sail through red lights or nearly run over pedestrians when turning when the pedestrians have right of way? So pedestrians can do whatever they want because its more dangerous for them? Did you know that a flashing red hand means "don't walk"? You can be ticketed by entering the crosswalk when it is flashing. How many of your close calls would that eliminate? As a driver, what is your first instinct when you see someone in the middle of your path on the road? I also hate people who jaywalk onto medians - how do I know they're going to stop when they get there? Especially if they're running at full speed. I've also had several pedestrians almost jaywalk right out infront of my car before, some not noticing me until I honked at them (too close to stop). We would all be safer if we all followed the rules. Not just cars.