PSA for drivers: Please be extra careful dirving in the rain to look out for pedestrians

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight-I'm driving the speed limit, looking forward mostly but also around and someone walks out suddenly into the street at night wearing all black and I hit them it's my fault?????? That 's some strange ass logic there.

Turn on your headlights. Look. People don't materialize out of ether and pop into crosswalk. First, they will be next to the crosswalk. Them they will step into the crosswalk. You can see them at these stages. Even someone wearing black at night

If you are approaching a crosswalk and you're unsure then slow down until you are sure that it is safe. That way you can stop more readily in case someone is there. That is your legal responsibility. You are required to drive at a safe speed, not necessarily the speed limit. Rainy and dark means it's ok and appropriate to slow down where people cross the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight-I'm driving the speed limit, looking forward mostly but also around and someone walks out suddenly into the street at night wearing all black and I hit them it's my fault?????? That 's some strange ass logic there.

Yes, if you hit/ murder someone in a crosswalk then it is yourself. If you can’t stop in time to avoid harming another human being then you should not be driving in an area with pedestrians. Feel free to limit your driving to the highway if stopping for a pedestrian in the crosswalk is something you are unable to manage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have terrible crosswalks. There are a ton near me that

A) do not have reflective paint
B) do not have a signal attached to them
C) are in the middle of very busy streets that have a lot of lights on the buildings or high up, so the crosswalk is t obvious due to the other visually distracting objects

And then add in people in non-reflective clothing and you have a recipe for disaster, especially if it’s night or raining.

Arlington thinks it’s done a good deed by slapping some paint on the road in the middle of busy streets, but almost none of them have the associated pedestrian-activated signal to start the flashing lights. You may be able to cross Washington Boulevard or Fairfax Drive at a crosswalk, but you’re crazy to do so, especially on Washington where there is no parking or curb lane. You can’t be seen.

Absolutely right. Crosswalks are shit, this the reason for the PSA. Because people think it is funny to say that they can kill you because they bought a crappy Range Rover. Slow down, be aware; and know that in five years advocacy efforts of people who deal with mr Range Rover every day will mean you will be stuck in a single lane of traffic while buses and pedestrians pass you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Calm down everyone. I'm pretty sure the Range Rover comment was a joke.

Between cars and pedestrians, a car will always win. Therefore, pedestrians should be more careful since they have a lot more to lose. Not giving drivers an excuse to do what they want but would you rather be flattened (and right) or alive (and still able to comment on DCUM)?

Murder isn’t really a joke. Nice try though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight-I'm driving the speed limit, looking forward mostly but also around and someone walks out suddenly into the street at night wearing all black and I hit them it's my fault?????? That 's some strange ass logic there.

Yes. Slow down. The speed limit is the maximum legal speed under ideal conditions. Darkness is not ideal conditions. You need to drive more slowly at night, and you need to look for people who are walking.

This isn't the middle of pitch-dark rural Montana, it's the DC region. If you can't see people who are wearing dark clothing at night, you're driving too fast. Slow down.