Have the new "Stop for Pedestrian in Xwalk" signs ruined the car/pedestrian dynamic ???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drivers didn't stop before. You say "of course" but they didn't.

I head into the crosswalk because people don't stop when they see you waiting, even if they are required to, and because where I am going is as important as where you're going, and me waiting for several minutes so that you don't have to wait for a several seconds while I cross is ridiculous.

but here is where you are wrong. Drivers are only required to stop for pedestrians who are physically in the crosswalk. They are not required to stop just because someone is waiting to cross. Stopping to let someone cross can be dangerous if it is on a busy road. It is up to the pedestrian to wait until there is a break in traffic to cross.

It's fascinating how this has turned into drivers having the right of way and pedestrians having to wait, no matter what the law says.

When a pedestrian is physically in the crosswalk they have the right of way. When a car is driving down the road and there is no pedestrian physically in the crosswalk then the driver has the right of way.

Now if a pedestrian jumps off the curb into oncoming traffic without giving a drive enough time to react then the pedestrian is at fault.



VA law clearly states this: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-924/
The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway by stopping and remaining stopped until such pedestrian has passed the lane in which the vehicle is stopped.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.

Notice it says "crossing" not waiting to cross.

This is not the law in D.C.

So what is dc law? All I have seen discusses stopping for pedestrians actively crossing/in the crosswalk. Nothing about cars having to stop just because the see someone waiting to cross.

The driver must stop and yield to the pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk with the proviso that the pedestrian cannot “suddenly” enter the crosswalk. Don’t worry, MPD will more typically find the pedestrian at fault because that’s how they roll.

I know this. Then why is everyone on here making it sound like drives are supposed to be driving down the road scanning the sidewalks so they can stop anytime they see someone standing on a sidewalk waiting to cross?

That’s exactly what a competent, responsible driver is supposed to be doing as they approach an intersection. Be prepared for a pedestrian entering the crosswalk. Be prepared for a signal light change. Be prepared for a cyclist or another vehicle entering the intersection.

Because, they ARE supposed to do this? You seriously drive down the street looking straight ahead and not looking to see if you need to stop in order to properly yield the right of way?

I don't look straight ahead, but again I do not stop for pedestrians simply waiting on the sidewalk waiting to cross. If they are actually in the crosswalk i stop, but no i do not stop for every pedestrian waiting to cross.

Am curious why not- I always scan and stop if a pedestrian is waiting to cross or looks like he or she might cross, especially if it is a road with no parking so the only other way for a pedestrian to cross is to step into the crosswalk- which many drivers on here seem to think means they have a death wish.

Because if there are so many cars that a pedestrian can't cross then I am not going to suddenly stop with cars behind me as this could cause an accident. And if i am the only car on the road then the person can cross after I pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drivers didn't stop before. You say "of course" but they didn't.

I head into the crosswalk because people don't stop when they see you waiting, even if they are required to, and because where I am going is as important as where you're going, and me waiting for several minutes so that you don't have to wait for a several seconds while I cross is ridiculous.

but here is where you are wrong. Drivers are only required to stop for pedestrians who are physically in the crosswalk. They are not required to stop just because someone is waiting to cross. Stopping to let someone cross can be dangerous if it is on a busy road. It is up to the pedestrian to wait until there is a break in traffic to cross.

It's fascinating how this has turned into drivers having the right of way and pedestrians having to wait, no matter what the law says.

When a pedestrian is physically in the crosswalk they have the right of way. When a car is driving down the road and there is no pedestrian physically in the crosswalk then the driver has the right of way.

Now if a pedestrian jumps off the curb into oncoming traffic without giving a drive enough time to react then the pedestrian is at fault.



VA law clearly states this: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-924/
The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway by stopping and remaining stopped until such pedestrian has passed the lane in which the vehicle is stopped.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.

Notice it says "crossing" not waiting to cross.

This is not the law in D.C.

So what is dc law? All I have seen discusses stopping for pedestrians actively crossing/in the crosswalk. Nothing about cars having to stop just because the see someone waiting to cross.

The driver must stop and yield to the pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk with the proviso that the pedestrian cannot “suddenly” enter the crosswalk. Don’t worry, MPD will more typically find the pedestrian at fault because that’s how they roll.

I know this. Then why is everyone on here making it sound like drives are supposed to be driving down the road scanning the sidewalks so they can stop anytime they see someone standing on a sidewalk waiting to cross?

That’s exactly what a competent, responsible driver is supposed to be doing as they approach an intersection. Be prepared for a pedestrian entering the crosswalk. Be prepared for a signal light change. Be prepared for a cyclist or another vehicle entering the intersection.

Because, they ARE supposed to do this? You seriously drive down the street looking straight ahead and not looking to see if you need to stop in order to properly yield the right of way?

I don't look straight ahead, but again I do not stop for pedestrians simply waiting on the sidewalk waiting to cross. If they are actually in the crosswalk i stop, but no i do not stop for every pedestrian waiting to cross.

Am curious why not- I always scan and stop if a pedestrian is waiting to cross or looks like he or she might cross, especially if it is a road with no parking so the only other way for a pedestrian to cross is to step into the crosswalk- which many drivers on here seem to think means they have a death wish.

Because if there are so many cars that a pedestrian can't cross then I am not going to suddenly stop with cars behind me as this could cause an accident. And if i am the only car on the road then the person can cross after I pass.

It sounds like the are no scenarios under which you'd follow the law. Better hope police don't start enforcing that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drivers didn't stop before. You say "of course" but they didn't.

I head into the crosswalk because people don't stop when they see you waiting, even if they are required to, and because where I am going is as important as where you're going, and me waiting for several minutes so that you don't have to wait for a several seconds while I cross is ridiculous.

but here is where you are wrong. Drivers are only required to stop for pedestrians who are physically in the crosswalk. They are not required to stop just because someone is waiting to cross. Stopping to let someone cross can be dangerous if it is on a busy road. It is up to the pedestrian to wait until there is a break in traffic to cross.

It's fascinating how this has turned into drivers having the right of way and pedestrians having to wait, no matter what the law says.

When a pedestrian is physically in the crosswalk they have the right of way. When a car is driving down the road and there is no pedestrian physically in the crosswalk then the driver has the right of way.

Now if a pedestrian jumps off the curb into oncoming traffic without giving a drive enough time to react then the pedestrian is at fault.



VA law clearly states this: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-924/
The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway by stopping and remaining stopped until such pedestrian has passed the lane in which the vehicle is stopped.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.

Notice it says "crossing" not waiting to cross.

This is not the law in D.C.

So what is dc law? All I have seen discusses stopping for pedestrians actively crossing/in the crosswalk. Nothing about cars having to stop just because the see someone waiting to cross.

The driver must stop and yield to the pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk with the proviso that the pedestrian cannot “suddenly” enter the crosswalk. Don’t worry, MPD will more typically find the pedestrian at fault because that’s how they roll.

I know this. Then why is everyone on here making it sound like drives are supposed to be driving down the road scanning the sidewalks so they can stop anytime they see someone standing on a sidewalk waiting to cross?

That’s exactly what a competent, responsible driver is supposed to be doing as they approach an intersection. Be prepared for a pedestrian entering the crosswalk. Be prepared for a signal light change. Be prepared for a cyclist or another vehicle entering the intersection.

Because, they ARE supposed to do this? You seriously drive down the street looking straight ahead and not looking to see if you need to stop in order to properly yield the right of way?

I don't look straight ahead, but again I do not stop for pedestrians simply waiting on the sidewalk waiting to cross. If they are actually in the crosswalk i stop, but no i do not stop for every pedestrian waiting to cross.

Am curious why not- I always scan and stop if a pedestrian is waiting to cross or looks like he or she might cross, especially if it is a road with no parking so the only other way for a pedestrian to cross is to step into the crosswalk- which many drivers on here seem to think means they have a death wish.

Because if there are so many cars that a pedestrian can't cross then I am not going to suddenly stop with cars behind me as this could cause an accident. And if i am the only car on the road then the person can cross after I pass.

An attentive driver deserving of the privilege of holding a license is able to slow down and stop without doing so “suddenly.” Or are you have such poor skills that you also find yourself unable to stop for red lights and stop signs? But you also won’t be inconvenienced for a few seconds if there’s no other vehicle. Your entitlement is breathtaking. Hopefully karma bites you firmly in the ass.

[Anonymous]

The people who simply step off the curb without looking for traffic just because they are in one of these crosswalks are idiots. The crosswalk is not some special protective bubble that magically repels cars. But these people have likely always been oblivious to what's going on around them--it's just that they are everywhere now. I don't think we can blame this on the crosswalks.