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At traffic lights, it's very common when one person starts crossing the street while the lights are still red, for others to follow immediately. It takes surpri
by krylon 4y ago
At traffic lights, it's very common when one person starts crossing the street while the lights are still red, for others to follow immediately. It takes surprisingly much conscious effort to resist the instinct and look at the traffic lights first.
- nerdponx 4y agoThat's not it. Sometimes this happens because people are on their phones or otherwise zoning out, and only realize it's safe to cross when somebody else starts doing it. But I think the big reason this happens is because, if someone else starts crossing the road, then it must be because either nobody is coming, or because the drivers on the road have already indicated their willingness to yield to the pedestrians. In the latter case, it makes sense to cross directly behind somebody else who is crossing, because a yielding driver provides a short window of opportunity for crossing safely. In general, watching somebody do something that you thought was risky tends to be a subconscious prompt at the thing was perhaps not as risky as you thought. It's a little more subtle than "animal brain bad, look at the lights you dummy".
- ectopod 4y agoOr there is a car coming and it isn't slowing down but there is just enough time for me to nip across in front of it. Maybe this doesn't happen in countries with jaywalking laws, but it does happen here.
- jamiek88 4y agoI was weirdly proud of when I got a jaywalking ticket in Edmonton, ca on a business trip. No cars visible, looked both ways, crossed. Suddenly 3 cops surround me. I didn’t use the crossing. I just couldn’t take it seriously in my mind. What a stupid law. But I’m in their country, acted respectful, paid the fine. But man. North America has ceded sovereignty of their streets fully, completely to the automobile.
- lupire 4y ago
- cwillu 4y agoWrong country.
- DonHopkins 4y agoHow many traffic laws and safety practices did the three cops break to surround and arrest you in the middle of the road? Oh, but that's their job. Not yours.
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- smeyer 4y agoThere's also a benefit in visibility. Even if you fix everything else constant (same number of cars, at the same distance, etc.), it's safer to cross the street when someone else is already crossing than it is when no one else is crossing. It makes sense that someone being willing to cross at a red could push others over into deciding to cross.
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- ravi-delia 4y agoThat's at least in part because the first person is doing a great public service. Odds are once people are out in the street the oncoming cars will see them and stop. But the first person out bears way more risk for being the one to break pattern- if there's a distracted driver, they'll be the one to find out. So once I see some brave soul fail to get flattened I know I'm ready to head out.