DC Pedestrian Safety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

I think you're missing the point. Also, it sort of depends on the posted speed limit, doesn't it?

No, I'm not missing the point at all. It's much easier to see people and react in time when you're driving 20 mph than when you're driving 30 mph. It's also much less likely that you will injure them if you do hit them. So when there are pedestrians around, don't drive faster than 20 mph.

Also, 20 mph is the default speed limit (i.e., MAXIMUM allowable speed under ideal conditions) in DC.

If you step in front of a car going 20 mph, you are going to die. And no one is asking that car to go 20 mph when the posted speed limit is higher than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

Right. This accident happened in a 20 mph place. Plus, in case PPs aren't familiar with this stretch of Columbia Road, there are stop signs on almost every corner, so you wouldn't ever reach 20mph in between stops unless you're accelerating inappropriately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

I think you're missing the point. Also, it sort of depends on the posted speed limit, doesn't it?

No, I'm not missing the point at all. It's much easier to see people and react in time when you're driving 20 mph than when you're driving 30 mph. It's also much less likely that you will injure them if you do hit them. So when there are pedestrians around, don't drive faster than 20 mph.

Also, 20 mph is the default speed limit (i.e., MAXIMUM allowable speed under ideal conditions) in DC.

If you step in front of a car going 20 mph, you are going to die. And no one is asking that car to go 20 mph when the posted speed limit is higher than that.

No, you're just plain wrong about that. If you are driving less than 20 mph and you hit someone, chances are high that the person won't be seriously injured, let alone die. The chances of serious injury and death increase with every mph over 20 mph.

https://www.propublica.org/article/unsafe-at-many-speeds

In addition, too many people unfortunately believe, while driving, that the speed limit is the target speed or the minimum expected speed. But that's wrong too. Even when the posted speed limit is 20 mph, if it's not safe to drive 20 mph, the law requires you to drive more slowly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

Right. This accident happened in a 20 mph place. Plus, in case PPs aren't familiar with this stretch of Columbia Road, there are stop signs on almost every corner, so you wouldn't ever reach 20mph in between stops unless you're accelerating inappropriately.

Also, when 30mph PP drives in DC proper she should be driving (first of all no more than 20mph on most streets and) as if she could be required to yield to pedestrians at every corner. Urban driving kind of needs to carry that anticipation. It's a particular skill you develop when you drive in cities. MD and VA drivers don't come prepared to do that and that, specifically, if why we say they're so terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

I think you're missing the point. Also, it sort of depends on the posted speed limit, doesn't it?

No, I'm not missing the point at all. It's much easier to see people and react in time when you're driving 20 mph than when you're driving 30 mph. It's also much less likely that you will injure them if you do hit them. So when there are pedestrians around, don't drive faster than 20 mph.

Also, 20 mph is the default speed limit (i.e., MAXIMUM allowable speed under ideal conditions) in DC.

If you step in front of a car going 20 mph, you are going to die. And no one is asking that car to go 20 mph when the posted speed limit is higher than that.

No, you're just plain wrong about that. If you are driving less than 20 mph and you hit someone, chances are high that the person won't be seriously injured, let alone die. The chances of serious injury and death increase with every mph over 20 mph.

https://www.propublica.org/article/unsafe-at-many-speeds

In addition, too many people unfortunately believe, while driving, that the speed limit is the target speed or the minimum expected speed. But that's wrong too. Even when the posted speed limit is 20 mph, if it's not safe to drive 20 mph, the law requires you to drive more slowly.

Go step in front of 6,000 pound SUV going 20 mph, and let us know how that works out for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

I think you're missing the point. Also, it sort of depends on the posted speed limit, doesn't it?

No, I'm not missing the point at all. It's much easier to see people and react in time when you're driving 20 mph than when you're driving 30 mph. It's also much less likely that you will injure them if you do hit them. So when there are pedestrians around, don't drive faster than 20 mph.

Also, 20 mph is the default speed limit (i.e., MAXIMUM allowable speed under ideal conditions) in DC.

If you step in front of a car going 20 mph, you are going to die. And no one is asking that car to go 20 mph when the posted speed limit is higher than that.

No, you're just plain wrong about that. If you are driving less than 20 mph and you hit someone, chances are high that the person won't be seriously injured, let alone die. The chances of serious injury and death increase with every mph over 20 mph.

https://www.propublica.org/article/unsafe-at-many-speeds

In addition, too many people unfortunately believe, while driving, that the speed limit is the target speed or the minimum expected speed. But that's wrong too. Even when the posted speed limit is 20 mph, if it's not safe to drive 20 mph, the law requires you to drive more slowly.

Laws don't mean anything if the police don't enforce them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

I think you're missing the point. Also, it sort of depends on the posted speed limit, doesn't it?

No, I'm not missing the point at all. It's much easier to see people and react in time when you're driving 20 mph than when you're driving 30 mph. It's also much less likely that you will injure them if you do hit them. So when there are pedestrians around, don't drive faster than 20 mph.

Also, 20 mph is the default speed limit (i.e., MAXIMUM allowable speed under ideal conditions) in DC.

If you step in front of a car going 20 mph, you are going to die. And no one is asking that car to go 20 mph when the posted speed limit is higher than that.

You can't drive on Columbia Road the same way you do on Rockville Pike or Lee Highway. We have frequent pedestrian crossings and short blocks. That means driving here is a matter of proceeding from stop to stop, and that's how you need to envision it. You can't expect to just drive right through. You have to see who is trying to cross at each corner and yield, and you always have to be prepared to stop just in case. Again, different driving skillset. It's not "I'm going," but "I'm negotiating this constantly shifting landscape of obstacles and proceeding from one to the other."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

I think you're missing the point. Also, it sort of depends on the posted speed limit, doesn't it?

No, I'm not missing the point at all. It's much easier to see people and react in time when you're driving 20 mph than when you're driving 30 mph. It's also much less likely that you will injure them if you do hit them. So when there are pedestrians around, don't drive faster than 20 mph.

Also, 20 mph is the default speed limit (i.e., MAXIMUM allowable speed under ideal conditions) in DC.

If you step in front of a car going 20 mph, you are going to die. And no one is asking that car to go 20 mph when the posted speed limit is higher than that.

No, you're just plain wrong about that. If you are driving less than 20 mph and you hit someone, chances are high that the person won't be seriously injured, let alone die. The chances of serious injury and death increase with every mph over 20 mph.

https://www.propublica.org/article/unsafe-at-many-speeds

In addition, too many people unfortunately believe, while driving, that the speed limit is the target speed or the minimum expected speed. But that's wrong too. Even when the posted speed limit is 20 mph, if it's not safe to drive 20 mph, the law requires you to drive more slowly.

Go step in front of 6,000 pound SUV going 20 mph, and let us know how that works out for you.

Now why are you bringing your SUV here? Where are you going to park that thing? Again, not Rockville Pike or Lee Highway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

I think you're missing the point. Also, it sort of depends on the posted speed limit, doesn't it?

No, I'm not missing the point at all. It's much easier to see people and react in time when you're driving 20 mph than when you're driving 30 mph. It's also much less likely that you will injure them if you do hit them. So when there are pedestrians around, don't drive faster than 20 mph.

Also, 20 mph is the default speed limit (i.e., MAXIMUM allowable speed under ideal conditions) in DC.

If you step in front of a car going 20 mph, you are going to die. And no one is asking that car to go 20 mph when the posted speed limit is higher than that.

No, you're just plain wrong about that. If you are driving less than 20 mph and you hit someone, chances are high that the person won't be seriously injured, let alone die. The chances of serious injury and death increase with every mph over 20 mph.

https://www.propublica.org/article/unsafe-at-many-speeds

In addition, too many people unfortunately believe, while driving, that the speed limit is the target speed or the minimum expected speed. But that's wrong too. Even when the posted speed limit is 20 mph, if it's not safe to drive 20 mph, the law requires you to drive more slowly.

Laws don't mean anything if the police don't enforce them.

D.C. in a nutshell: People creating elaborate rules for everything under the sun that are never enforced by anyone so everyone just ignores them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

I think you're missing the point. Also, it sort of depends on the posted speed limit, doesn't it?

No, I'm not missing the point at all. It's much easier to see people and react in time when you're driving 20 mph than when you're driving 30 mph. It's also much less likely that you will injure them if you do hit them. So when there are pedestrians around, don't drive faster than 20 mph.

Also, 20 mph is the default speed limit (i.e., MAXIMUM allowable speed under ideal conditions) in DC.

If you step in front of a car going 20 mph, you are going to die. And no one is asking that car to go 20 mph when the posted speed limit is higher than that.

No, you're just plain wrong about that. If you are driving less than 20 mph and you hit someone, chances are high that the person won't be seriously injured, let alone die. The chances of serious injury and death increase with every mph over 20 mph.

https://www.propublica.org/article/unsafe-at-many-speeds

In addition, too many people unfortunately believe, while driving, that the speed limit is the target speed or the minimum expected speed. But that's wrong too. Even when the posted speed limit is 20 mph, if it's not safe to drive 20 mph, the law requires you to drive more slowly.

Laws don't mean anything if the police don't enforce them.

D.C. in a nutshell: People creating elaborate rules for everything under the sun that are never enforced by anyone so everyone just ignores them.

"Everyone" does not ignore traffic rules. MD and VA drivers do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live around the corner. It's a bad crosswalk that drivers routinely disregard. There's a painted crosswalk but no light or stop sign, and the bars and brunch spots in Adams Morgan are unfortunately a draw for MD and VA drivers who aren't as accustomed to yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks without lights. When we use that crosswalk, (almost always MD or VA) drivers frequently try to speed up to either beat us before we cross their paths or to intimidate us into yielding to them. They rarely stop as they should simply because there are already pedestrians in the crosswalk. In order to get across the street, I need to proceed really assertively and make eye contact with the drivers to get them to stop.

Was she in the crosswalk? It wasn’t clear from the police report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live around the corner. It's a bad crosswalk that drivers routinely disregard. There's a painted crosswalk but no light or stop sign, and the bars and brunch spots in Adams Morgan are unfortunately a draw for MD and VA drivers who aren't as accustomed to yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks without lights. When we use that crosswalk, (almost always MD or VA) drivers frequently try to speed up to either beat us before we cross their paths or to intimidate us into yielding to them. They rarely stop as they should simply because there are already pedestrians in the crosswalk. In order to get across the street, I need to proceed really assertively and make eye contact with the drivers to get them to stop.

Was she in the crosswalk? It wasn’t clear from the police report.

Nobody knows anything. They're just pretending they know what happened based on their own presumptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

I think you're missing the point. Also, it sort of depends on the posted speed limit, doesn't it?

No, I'm not missing the point at all. It's much easier to see people and react in time when you're driving 20 mph than when you're driving 30 mph. It's also much less likely that you will injure them if you do hit them. So when there are pedestrians around, don't drive faster than 20 mph.

Also, 20 mph is the default speed limit (i.e., MAXIMUM allowable speed under ideal conditions) in DC.

If you step in front of a car going 20 mph, you are going to die. And no one is asking that car to go 20 mph when the posted speed limit is higher than that.

No, you're just plain wrong about that. If you are driving less than 20 mph and you hit someone, chances are high that the person won't be seriously injured, let alone die. The chances of serious injury and death increase with every mph over 20 mph.

https://www.propublica.org/article/unsafe-at-many-speeds

In addition, too many people unfortunately believe, while driving, that the speed limit is the target speed or the minimum expected speed. But that's wrong too. Even when the posted speed limit is 20 mph, if it's not safe to drive 20 mph, the law requires you to drive more slowly.

Laws don't mean anything if the police don't enforce them.

D.C. in a nutshell: People creating elaborate rules for everything under the sun that are never enforced by anyone so everyone just ignores them.

Sort of like how we have very tough gun laws and terrible gun violence. Someone should go tell those criminals what they're doing is against some very well thought out rules that people spent a lot of time thinking through!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:v

"Everyone" does not ignore traffic rules. MD and VA drivers do.

Plus DC drivers. And drivers from other states. And drivers with diplomat plates. And unlicensed drivers. Other than that, though...!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you never driven a car in D.C. before? I don't know what happened in this incident but sometimes people are stupid or not paying attention and step into crosswalks, and in front of oncoming cars, at the last moment. My car doesnt go 30 mph to zero mph in one second. I've had to swerve into the other lane to avoid people in crosswalks being idiots.

You shouldn't be driving faster than 20 mph.

I think you're missing the point. Also, it sort of depends on the posted speed limit, doesn't it?

No, I'm not missing the point at all. It's much easier to see people and react in time when you're driving 20 mph than when you're driving 30 mph. It's also much less likely that you will injure them if you do hit them. So when there are pedestrians around, don't drive faster than 20 mph.

Also, 20 mph is the default speed limit (i.e., MAXIMUM allowable speed under ideal conditions) in DC.

If you step in front of a car going 20 mph, you are going to die. And no one is asking that car to go 20 mph when the posted speed limit is higher than that.

No, you're just plain wrong about that. If you are driving less than 20 mph and you hit someone, chances are high that the person won't be seriously injured, let alone die. The chances of serious injury and death increase with every mph over 20 mph.

https://www.propublica.org/article/unsafe-at-many-speeds

In addition, too many people unfortunately believe, while driving, that the speed limit is the target speed or the minimum expected speed. But that's wrong too. Even when the posted speed limit is 20 mph, if it's not safe to drive 20 mph, the law requires you to drive more slowly.

Go step in front of 6,000 pound SUV going 20 mph, and let us know how that works out for you.

Well, yes, you're right, 6,000 pound SUVs are more deadly. Which means that (1) people who drive 6,000-pound SUVs have the responsibility to drive even more slowly and be even more careful (2) there need to be more regulations on SUVs, because SUVs are one of the reasons why more drivers have been killing more pedestrians in the US in recent years.