"I didn't run you over, so you need to calm down!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in the crosswalk yesterday at Irving and Hiatt (halfway between 14th and 16th Streets) when a driver making a left turn onto Irving nearly ran me down. I kept thinking the car would stop... and it did, about 6 inches from me. I thought, "This is it" and my reaction was to let out a yell and and throw my arms up. The driver rolled down her window. I said, "You didn't see me?" She replied by berating me with, "I didn't run you over, so you need to calm down!" Then she drove off down Irving. If I did that, I would be apologizing profusely and asking if the pedestrian was okay. Yeesh. What in the hell? She's going to kill someone one day. I'm still a bit rattled.

It's just not safe for pedestrians out there. What can be done?

I hope she reacted that inappropriately only because she suddenly realized she almost killed somebody and was also rattled (not a good way to show it, I know, and I've been there)

As for what's to be done--I like to claim my rights as a pedestrian, but (like you I think) I also gauge distance and speed and also make eye contact if at all possible. I won't do that if I am putting a kid or my dog at risk, but I also don't believe in surrending my claim. (I have fantasies about having my own stop sign with lights flashing on it when crossing). Basically, the only way to avoid what you experienced would be to never cross a street on foot ever. Usually people making a left turn are going to be looking that direction, they're sloppier turning right. Also keep in mind the post or whatever it's called between the side windows and the windshield is a place where vehicles but especially people "hide" from the the driver's view.

[Anonymous]

I saw some guy in a Lexus 4 series - HUGE SUV - actually gun it toward a pedestrian, when the SUV was turning into a (known) very small inner suburban parking lot. The guy laughed when he almost hit her. I was fully prepared to make a witness statement to the police in the pedestrian's favor, because the a-hole driving had NO business driving like he did - he deliberately gunned it and laughed, and he could have easily been sued.

I later told the pedestrian that if it was me, I would have fallen to the ground, because that is exactly what someone like that driver deserves. I would have sued the pants off him - he wouldn't be laughing in his HUGE SUV any more! Some people are a-holes and need to b taken down a few pegs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never trust a car to stop even if you are in the crosswalk and you have the light. I am shocked at all the pedestrians that don't bother looking or keep walking even when they see car coming just trusting that the driver will stop.

Okay. SO what happens if a car just plows through the crosswalk. There is only so much vigilance a pedestrian can demonstrate. If you have the light or you are in the crosswalk, looking can only do so much if someone drives through it.

For the most part, all looking is going to accomplish is watching your death come at you.

Fear response (freezing) and the fact that people are slower than cars means that a pedestrian will always be at a disadvantage.

When incidents like the OP describes happen, the only way the pedestrian survives is if the car stops! All the vigilance in the world won't save her.

If the OP was being vigilant how did she not see a car coming.... looking at her phone ... probably.

You can't just stand at a crosswalk texting then all of a sudden walk into the crosswalk ... like drivers can read your mind.

This is OP. I wasn't looking at my phone. I'm an old Gen X person and my phone is not that important to me. When I started crossing Irving was clear and the driver on Hiatt street was at least halfway down the block. She blew through the stop sign to make the left when she almost hit me.

You didn't make that clear at first. I thought you stepped out when she was pretty much right there.

I don't know what can be done OP. There will always be idiot drivers. If she didn't stop at the stop sign I don't know what would clue her in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coming from another culture, it is hard to understand how a lot of people are saying that pedestrians need to take responsibility for their own safety, always assume that cars have the right of way. Yet, in other contexts, when accidents arise, let's say a child gets sunburned at camp because a parent didn't provide sunscreen, then it's suing time and people can't seem to take responsibility for themselves anymore.

Could somebody explain?

It probably can’t be explained any further than it has already, but here’s the short version. Yes, pedestrians can have right away, if you’re dead who cares. Keep watching drivers, make sure they stop. You have to be more vigilant as a pedestrian to make sure you’re not hit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Coming from another culture, it is hard to understand how a lot of people are saying that pedestrians need to take responsibility for their own safety, always assume that cars have the right of way. Yet, in other contexts, when accidents arise, let's say a child gets sunburned at camp because a parent didn't provide sunscreen, then it's suing time and people can't seem to take responsibility for themselves anymore.

Could somebody explain?

It probably can’t be explained any further than it has already, but here’s the short version. Yes, pedestrians can have right away, if you’re dead who cares. Keep watching drivers, make sure they stop. You have to be more vigilant as a pedestrian to make sure you’re not hit

It is right OF way. Pedestrians have the right of way.

And the only way you can "make sure" a driver doesn't hit you while you're walking is if you don't walk anywhere ever. Including in parking lots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in the crosswalk yesterday at Irving and Hiatt (halfway between 14th and 16th Streets) when a driver making a left turn onto Irving nearly ran me down. I kept thinking the car would stop... and it did, about 6 inches from me. I thought, "This is it" and my reaction was to let out a yell and and throw my arms up. The driver rolled down her window. I said, "You didn't see me?" She replied by berating me with, "I didn't run you over, so you need to calm down!" Then she drove off down Irving. If I did that, I would be apologizing profusely and asking if the pedestrian was okay. Yeesh. What in the hell? She's going to kill someone one day. I'm still a bit rattled.

It's just not safe for pedestrians out there. What can be done?

Never trust that a car will stop or they see you. If you think a car will stop wait till it does before you move in front of it. It’s nice you are in the crosswalk but if that car hits you ...

It's "nice" that I was in the crosswalk?!? I was following the rules... already in the crosswalk before she came barreling up out of nowhere.

You don't just have the right of way because you are in a crosswalk. It does not mean you don't have to be vigilant because you are in the crosswalk.

I do have the right of way in a crosswalk and I was vigilant. When I started crossing she wasn't even close to the intersection. And there's a stop sign on Hiatt. It's a one way on Irving and nothing was coming from that direction.

Of course OP had the right of way in a crosswalk. Ignorant selfish drivers like the above make me sick. I was walking my baby in the stroller in downtown Bethesda and this obnoxious woman in a minivan, stopped right in the crosswalk when the light changed to red. She had plenty of room to move forward or backwards, but didn't, and said "she had the right to stop in a crosswalk. I took a picture and took her license plate down and sent it via mail to the police (marked non-urgent traffic violation.) Not sure what happened, but it made me feel better because she was so obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Of course OP had the right of way in a crosswalk. Ignorant selfish drivers like the above make me sick. I was walking my baby in the stroller in downtown Bethesda and this obnoxious woman in a minivan, stopped right in the crosswalk when the light changed to red. She had plenty of room to move forward or backwards, but didn't, and said "she had the right to stop in a crosswalk. I took a picture and took her license plate down and sent it via mail to the police (marked non-urgent traffic violation.) Not sure what happened, but it made me feel better because she was so obnoxious.

Blocking the crosswalk with your vehicle endangers pedestrians. Just like blocking a sidewalk with your vehicle endangers pedestrians, and blocking a bike lane with your vehicle endangers bike riders. I wish more people understood this. It's not a difficult concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Coming from another culture, it is hard to understand how a lot of people are saying that pedestrians need to take responsibility for their own safety, always assume that cars have the right of way. Yet, in other contexts, when accidents arise, let's say a child gets sunburned at camp because a parent didn't provide sunscreen, then it's suing time and people can't seem to take responsibility for themselves anymore.

Could somebody explain?

It probably can’t be explained any further than it has already, but here’s the short version. Yes, pedestrians can have right away, if you’re dead who cares. Keep watching drivers, make sure they stop. You have to be more vigilant as a pedestrian to make sure you’re not hit

It is right OF way. Pedestrians have the right of way.

And the only way you can "make sure" a driver doesn't hit you while you're walking is if you don't walk anywhere ever. Including in parking lots.

Or maybe open carry RPGs. Sorry officer, I feared for my life so I had to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in the crosswalk yesterday at Irving and Hiatt (halfway between 14th and 16th Streets) when a driver making a left turn onto Irving nearly ran me down. I kept thinking the car would stop... and it did, about 6 inches from me. I thought, "This is it" and my reaction was to let out a yell and and throw my arms up. The driver rolled down her window. I said, "You didn't see me?" She replied by berating me with, "I didn't run you over, so you need to calm down!" Then she drove off down Irving. If I did that, I would be apologizing profusely and asking if the pedestrian was okay. Yeesh. What in the hell? She's going to kill someone one day. I'm still a bit rattled.

It's just not safe for pedestrians out there. What can be done?

Never trust that a car will stop or they see you. If you think a car will stop wait till it does before you move in front of it. It’s nice you are in the crosswalk but if that car hits you ...

It's "nice" that I was in the crosswalk?!? I was following the rules... already in the crosswalk before she came barreling up out of nowhere.

You don't just have the right of way because you are in a crosswalk. It does not mean you don't have to be vigilant because you are in the crosswalk.

I do have the right of way in a crosswalk and I was vigilant. When I started crossing she wasn't even close to the intersection. And there's a stop sign on Hiatt. It's a one way on Irving and nothing was coming from that direction.

Of course OP had the right of way in a crosswalk. Ignorant selfish drivers like the above make me sick. I was walking my baby in the stroller in downtown Bethesda and this obnoxious woman in a minivan, stopped right in the crosswalk when the light changed to red. She had plenty of room to move forward or backwards, but didn't, and said "she had the right to stop in a crosswalk. I took a picture and took her license plate down and sent it via mail to the police (marked non-urgent traffic violation.) Not sure what happened, but it made me feel better because she was so obnoxious.

you miss the point. Legally, you do have the right of way. Pedestrians have to more defensive, because you’re not in car. You have to be more vigilant so you don’t die

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you miss the point. Legally, you do have the right of way. Pedestrians have to more defensive, because you’re not in car. You have to be more vigilant so you don’t die

No, we get your point. I just wonder why you and others keep making it. There is not a person over the age of 3 or so who doesn't understand that getting hit by a car can kill you. Which is why the burden is on drivers to not kill people with their cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:you miss the point. Legally, you do have the right of way. Pedestrians have to more defensive, because you’re not in car. You have to be more vigilant so you don’t die

No, we get your point. I just wonder why you and others keep making it. There is not a person over the age of 3 or so who doesn't understand that getting hit by a car can kill you. Which is why the burden is on drivers to not kill people with their cars.

Lol. You said you get the point, while clearly explaining that you don’t. Number 1, I’m a slow driver that almost pisses people off. I don’t get distracted in my car. You leave the burden to the millions of drivers and millions of different personalities out there or do what some of us suggest, make eye contact, make sure that car is stopping. Do what you want, I’m trying to tell you that I see these head in the clouds pedestrians all the time. I won’t take them out. Someone will. I’m a great driver

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:you miss the point. Legally, you do have the right of way. Pedestrians have to more defensive, because you’re not in car. You have to be more vigilant so you don’t die

No, we get your point. I just wonder why you and others keep making it. There is not a person over the age of 3 or so who doesn't understand that getting hit by a car can kill you. Which is why the burden is on drivers to not kill people with their cars.

Everyone’s points haven’t been about the fact that cars can kill you. It’s how to not be such a sitting duck when you’re a pedestrian. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:you miss the point. Legally, you do have the right of way. Pedestrians have to more defensive, because you’re not in car. You have to be more vigilant so you don’t die

No, we get your point. I just wonder why you and others keep making it. There is not a person over the age of 3 or so who doesn't understand that getting hit by a car can kill you. Which is why the burden is on drivers to not kill people with their cars.

Everyone’s points haven’t been about the fact that cars can kill you. It’s how to not be such a sitting duck when you’re a pedestrian. Wow.

Honestly, this attitude reminds me of people who respond to reports of rape with tips for stuff women can do to avoid getting raped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:you miss the point. Legally, you do have the right of way. Pedestrians have to more defensive, because you’re not in car. You have to be more vigilant so you don’t die

No, we get your point. I just wonder why you and others keep making it. There is not a person over the age of 3 or so who doesn't understand that getting hit by a car can kill you. Which is why the burden is on drivers to not kill people with their cars.

Lol. You said you get the point, while clearly explaining that you don’t. Number 1, I’m a slow driver that almost pisses people off. I don’t get distracted in my car. You leave the burden to the millions of drivers and millions of different personalities out there or do what some of us suggest, make eye contact, make sure that car is stopping. Do what you want, I’m trying to tell you that I see these head in the clouds pedestrians all the time. I won’t take them out. Someone will. I’m a great driver

But "make eye contact" doesn't work.

And as for "make sure that the car is stopping" - You know what behavior is most effective in getting car drivers to stop? Aggressively walking out into the street - exactly what you are advising people to not do. And you know what is least effective? Doing what you are advising people to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:you miss the point. Legally, you do have the right of way. Pedestrians have to more defensive, because you’re not in car. You have to be more vigilant so you don’t die

No, we get your point. I just wonder why you and others keep making it. There is not a person over the age of 3 or so who doesn't understand that getting hit by a car can kill you. Which is why the burden is on drivers to not kill people with their cars.

Everyone’s points haven’t been about the fact that cars can kill you. It’s how to not be such a sitting duck when you’re a pedestrian. Wow.

Honestly, this attitude reminds me of people who respond to reports of rape with tips for stuff women can do to avoid getting raped.

So you don't lock your doors at night.

You don't wear a seatbelt?

Are you this dumb.