"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?

My long lost love!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You don't just have the right of way because you are in a crosswalk.

That's exactly what it means ididot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is so true. More pedestrians that have been killed would be alive, if they treat it this way. You may legally have the right away, but it won’t matter if you’re dead. Stop and make sure everyone comes to a complete stop, because it just takes one fool to be to texting and plow someone down

What a moronic thing to say. Hope a family member of yours has their life destroying by reckless driving.

[Anonymous]

I have literally started making eye contact with drivers and waving before I cross the street. I live in Old Town, and people use the city as a thru way to get other place, with zero regard for residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is so true. More pedestrians that have been killed would be alive, if they treat it this way. You may legally have the right away, but it won’t matter if you’re dead. Stop and make sure everyone comes to a complete stop, because it just takes one fool to be to texting and plow someone down

What a moronic thing to say. Hope a family member of yours has their life destroying by reckless driving. It won’t happen to a family member, because we don’t enter crosswalks, until cars have stopped, meaning just because we get a walk signal, nobody is taking chance of reckless driver blowing threw red light. The cars completely stop, we go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You telling people not to bother looking both ways or paying attention to cars approaching an intersection in traffic isn’t helping reduce that number.

Of course we should make changes to bad roadways, but that won’t prevent deaths caused by negligence by pedestrians and drivers.

My aunt killed a child who ran across a road. She was so traumatized that she still doesn’t drive 40 years later. The police investigation revealed she did nothing wrong. He just darted across the road in front of her, popped out from behind woods so she couldn’t see him and slow down. She had no chance of avoiding him. Tragic, but not her fault. She still has to live with the memory.

It is impossible to reduce the number to zero. We can improve it so we should embrace road AND vigilance training.

There's a meaningful difference between "Telling people to look both ways doesn't save lives" and "Hey, people! Don't bother to look both ways!"

If your aunt had been driving more slowly, she would have had more of a chance to the child and stop. People don't "pop out" of nowhere - but the faster you're driving, the more your peripheral vision narrows, and the more it seems as though they do. That's not her fault, it's the fault of the highway engineers who, for the last 80 years, have prioritized driving fast over human life. If the roads aren't safe for children, the roads aren't safe.

Um yes they do, all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You telling people not to bother looking both ways or paying attention to cars approaching an intersection in traffic isn’t helping reduce that number.

Of course we should make changes to bad roadways, but that won’t prevent deaths caused by negligence by pedestrians and drivers.

My aunt killed a child who ran across a road. She was so traumatized that she still doesn’t drive 40 years later. The police investigation revealed she did nothing wrong. He just darted across the road in front of her, popped out from behind woods so she couldn’t see him and slow down. She had no chance of avoiding him. Tragic, but not her fault. She still has to live with the memory.

It is impossible to reduce the number to zero. We can improve it so we should embrace road AND vigilance training.

There's a meaningful difference between "Telling people to look both ways doesn't save lives" and "Hey, people! Don't bother to look both ways!"

If your aunt had been driving more slowly, she would have had more of a chance to the child and stop. People don't "pop out" of nowhere - but the faster you're driving, the more your peripheral vision narrows, and the more it seems as though they do. That's not her fault, it's the fault of the highway engineers who, for the last 80 years, have prioritized driving fast over human life. If the roads aren't safe for children, the roads aren't safe.

Um yes they do, all the time.

not the poster you’re responding too, but no, they just don’t appear in a cloud of smoke. Cars are easy to anticipate if you’re paying attention. They are big machines making lots of noise. Pedestrians usually have their heads in the clouds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You don't just have the right of way because you are in a crosswalk.

That's exactly what it means ididot

It seems like many drivers the like top poster are incredibly uninformed (I'm not going to name call). Drivers' Ed and the driving test need to beef up the sections on laws related to pedestrians. I've had a driver not yield to me when turning right on red because he honestly believed he was not required to stop if the walk light wasn't illuminated (it was broken). Another driver drove through the crosswalk giving me about 6 inches of clearance and didn't believe that the law states drivers are not allowed to enter a crosswalk while a pedestrian is crossing. Aggressive driver who just don't care will always exist, but we have too many ignorant drivers on the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You don't just have the right of way because you are in a crosswalk.

That's exactly what it means ididot

It seems like many drivers the like top poster are incredibly uninformed (I'm not going to name call). Drivers' Ed and the driving test need to beef up the sections on laws related to pedestrians. I've had a driver not yield to me when turning right on red because he honestly believed he was not required to stop if the walk light wasn't illuminated (it was broken). Another driver drove through the crosswalk giving me about 6 inches of clearance and didn't believe that the law states drivers are not allowed to enter a crosswalk while a pedestrian is crossing. Aggressive driver who just don't care will always exist, but we have too many ignorant drivers on the road.

You’re talking about right of way. Yes, I’m sure you have right of way. We’re talking about keeping you alive. Walk signal doesn’t mean to necessarily go yet. I’m a great driver from above and never come close to hitting anyone, but I’ve seen pedestrians crossing, looking at phones, assuming cars will stop because they have right of way. Never assume they will stop. Make sure they do, then cross

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You telling people not to bother looking both ways or paying attention to cars approaching an intersection in traffic isn’t helping reduce that number.

Of course we should make changes to bad roadways, but that won’t prevent deaths caused by negligence by pedestrians and drivers.

My aunt killed a child who ran across a road. She was so traumatized that she still doesn’t drive 40 years later. The police investigation revealed she did nothing wrong. He just darted across the road in front of her, popped out from behind woods so she couldn’t see him and slow down. She had no chance of avoiding him. Tragic, but not her fault. She still has to live with the memory.

It is impossible to reduce the number to zero. We can improve it so we should embrace road AND vigilance training.

There's a meaningful difference between "Telling people to look both ways doesn't save lives" and "Hey, people! Don't bother to look both ways!"

If your aunt had been driving more slowly, she would have had more of a chance to the child and stop. People don't "pop out" of nowhere - but the faster you're driving, the more your peripheral vision narrows, and the more it seems as though they do. That's not her fault, it's the fault of the highway engineers who, for the last 80 years, have prioritized driving fast over human life. If the roads aren't safe for children, the roads aren't safe.

Um yes they do, all the time.

No, they don't, except on Star Trek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You telling people not to bother looking both ways or paying attention to cars approaching an intersection in traffic isn’t helping reduce that number.

Of course we should make changes to bad roadways, but that won’t prevent deaths caused by negligence by pedestrians and drivers.

My aunt killed a child who ran across a road. She was so traumatized that she still doesn’t drive 40 years later. The police investigation revealed she did nothing wrong. He just darted across the road in front of her, popped out from behind woods so she couldn’t see him and slow down. She had no chance of avoiding him. Tragic, but not her fault. She still has to live with the memory.

It is impossible to reduce the number to zero. We can improve it so we should embrace road AND vigilance training.

There's a meaningful difference between "Telling people to look both ways doesn't save lives" and "Hey, people! Don't bother to look both ways!"

If your aunt had been driving more slowly, she would have had more of a chance to the child and stop. People don't "pop out" of nowhere - but the faster you're driving, the more your peripheral vision narrows, and the more it seems as though they do. That's not her fault, it's the fault of the highway engineers who, for the last 80 years, have prioritized driving fast over human life. If the roads aren't safe for children, the roads aren't safe.

Um yes they do, all the time.

No, they don't, except on Star Trek.

You are wrong. They are noisy machines. If you’re extra vigilant, no reason you shouldn’t be aware of them. They don’t just suddenly appear

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see pedestrians all the time darting in front of traffic, thinking they are invincible. Pedestrians can help save their own lives by making sure cars are stopping before starting their crossing

People don't "dart" very much. It just looks it, when you're driving by at 30+ mph.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You telling people not to bother looking both ways or paying attention to cars approaching an intersection in traffic isn’t helping reduce that number.

Of course we should make changes to bad roadways, but that won’t prevent deaths caused by negligence by pedestrians and drivers.

My aunt killed a child who ran across a road. She was so traumatized that she still doesn’t drive 40 years later. The police investigation revealed she did nothing wrong. He just darted across the road in front of her, popped out from behind woods so she couldn’t see him and slow down. She had no chance of avoiding him. Tragic, but not her fault. She still has to live with the memory.

It is impossible to reduce the number to zero. We can improve it so we should embrace road AND vigilance training.

There's a meaningful difference between "Telling people to look both ways doesn't save lives" and "Hey, people! Don't bother to look both ways!"

If your aunt had been driving more slowly, she would have had more of a chance to the child and stop. People don't "pop out" of nowhere - but the faster you're driving, the more your peripheral vision narrows, and the more it seems as though they do. That's not her fault, it's the fault of the highway engineers who, for the last 80 years, have prioritized driving fast over human life. If the roads aren't safe for children, the roads aren't safe.

Um yes they do, all the time.

No, they don't, except on Star Trek.

You are wrong. They are noisy machines. If you’re extra vigilant, no reason you shouldn’t be aware of them. They don’t just suddenly appear

Re-read, please. Pedestrians do not pop up out of nowhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You don't just have the right of way because you are in a crosswalk.

That's exactly what it means ididot

It seems like many drivers the like top poster are incredibly uninformed (I'm not going to name call). Drivers' Ed and the driving test need to beef up the sections on laws related to pedestrians. I've had a driver not yield to me when turning right on red because he honestly believed he was not required to stop if the walk light wasn't illuminated (it was broken). Another driver drove through the crosswalk giving me about 6 inches of clearance and didn't believe that the law states drivers are not allowed to enter a crosswalk while a pedestrian is crossing. Aggressive driver who just don't care will always exist, but we have too many ignorant drivers on the road.

You’re talking about right of way. Yes, I’m sure you have right of way. We’re talking about keeping you alive. Walk signal doesn’t mean to necessarily go yet. I’m a great driver from above and never come close to hitting anyone, but I’ve seen pedestrians crossing, looking at phones, assuming cars will stop because they have right of way. Never assume they will stop. Make sure they do, then cross

Here's the thing, though.

A pedestrian in a crosswalk DOES have the right of way, regardless of whether a car is coming or not.

Here is the code: https://code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/sections/50-2201.28.html

(a) The driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within any marked crosswalk, or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, when the pedestrian is upon the lane, or within one lane approaching the lane, on which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning.

(a-1) Whenever a vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk at an unsignalized intersection, a vehicle approaching the crosswalk in an adjacent lane or from behind the stopped vehicle shall stop and give the right-of-way to ensure the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists before passing the stopped vehicle.

(b) A pedestrian who has begun crossing on the “WALK” signal shall be given the right-of-way by the driver of any vehicle to continue to the opposite sidewalk or safety island, whichever is nearest.

Now, you can argue that whether a pedestrian has the right of way or not, they can still be injured or killed by a driver who violates the right of way. No one is disagreeing that that is a real possibility. But the pedestrian does have the right of way. The burden is on the driver to allow the pedestrian to cross. If the driver does not allow the pedestrian to cross and the pedestrian is struck by a car, the pedestrian does not receive a citation for being in the crosswalk when a car was tryin to turn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Now, you can argue that whether a pedestrian has the right of way or not, they can still be injured or killed by a driver who violates the right of way. No one is disagreeing that that is a real possibility. But the pedestrian does have the right of way. The burden is on the driver to allow the pedestrian to cross. If the driver does not allow the pedestrian to cross and the pedestrian is struck by a car, the pedestrian does not receive a citation for being in the crosswalk when a car was tryin to turn.

People who keep arguing that the burden is on the pedestrian to not get run over are saying that might makes right. Imagine this argument in other contexts.

You can't control other people's behavior, just your own, so always check the room to make sure there's nobody with a gun in it before you enter. It's true that it's illegal to shoot someone, but that won't help you when you're dead.

You can't control other people's behavior, just your own, so always check your food for arsenic before you eat it at a restaurant. It's true that it's illegal to poison someone, but that won't help you when you're dead.

You can't control other people's behavior, just your own, so always check the road for drunk drivers before you start driving on it. It's true that it's illegal to drive drunk and kill someone, but that won't help you when you're dead.