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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These incidents make me FURIOUS!
Thank goodness you’re safe, OP.

+1

A 14 yo GDS student was hit and killed by a car this past weekend while out jogging. You in your car don't have anywhere to be that can't wait a few extra seconds to avoid hurting or killing someone.

Really? That's terrible. I missed that news story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Actually, you do.

dp - that's kinda stupid point though. if someone gets killed, it would've been op right? regardless whose fault it is. you still have to watch and watch carefully even if you think you have the right of way.

[Anonymous]

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.

DP. I agree with the second poster that it was "nice" or good that you were in the crosswalk but that crosswalk isn't a magic barrier. You can't depend on all drivers seeing you and pedestrians MUST take responsibility for themselves. Certainly if you were hit and killed the driver would probably be cited...but you would still be dead. So you can be right or you can be dead right. It is a choice. I'm not excusing the driver but I am saying that when I am a pedestrian, I am looking both ways and I am looking all ways. It is something to think about.

[Anonymous]

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.

DP. I agree with the second poster that it was "nice" or good that you were in the crosswalk but that crosswalk isn't a magic barrier. You can't depend on all drivers seeing you and pedestrians MUST take responsibility for themselves. Certainly if you were hit and killed the driver would probably be cited...but you would still be dead. So you can be right or you can be dead right. It is a choice. I'm not excusing the driver but I am saying that when I am a pedestrian, I am looking both ways and I am looking all ways. It is something to think about.

OP was doing all that. She was being careful.

The risk is inherent when you are a pedestrian. You can be vigilant but you still must make your way to get where you are going. You can do everything right and still be killed or injured. There are way to many horrible drivers out there.

[Anonymous]

*too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, yes you had the right of way. I think the other poster’s point is that there’s no right of way in heaven. (Per a saying I once saw in another country.) This means don’t rely on others for your safety even if you do have the right of way. It could save your life.

I wasn't relying on others for my safety. I was crossing the street. Should we not cross streets? Should there be no pedestrians in the city? Should I have to worry about being killed just because I'm not in a car?

Yes, given the number of pedestrian deaths I would say a little bit of worry is not a bad thing -- basically, even when crossing with the light you should be cautious. I thought this was common sense.

OH FOR GOD'S SAKE. I don't get how you people can't understand that OP was doing everything right in this instance. I suppose just being a pedestrian is wrong in your view.

FFS, get your panties out of twist. How is reminding people to be cautious anti-pedestrian. I walk the DC streets often (wait, this didn't come our right) and have had several close calls.... so yes, I worry a bit about being killed (especially if I see a bus speeding towards me). Whatever, if you can go through life without worry, power to you.

[Anonymous]

OP I'm sorry. I had the exact same happen to me a few years ago. I was crossing Conn Ave in CC when I screamed to keep a car turning left from hitting me. He then yelled at me because I was too shaken to acknowledge him apparently saying sorry. To rub salt in the wound it was a beautiful day and a dozen people were sitting outside at Starbucks on the corner (who clearly witnessed it all since I screamed). Not a single one acknowledged it or said "hey, are you okay?" or "what a jerk for yelling at you." I felt horrible about humanity that week.

[Anonymous]

pp to note for people who want to blame the ped...that he wasn't waiting at the stop when I started because I ALWAYS make sure that I make eye contact before crossing or look over my shoulder. Plenty of people don't.

[Anonymous]

It was terrible at Penn Ave SE and 3rd St SE.
Cars and people on bicycles and the fact that police were always around didn't make a difference at all.

Even if you have the light and are in the crosswalk the cars and bicyclists would always act like you were in the wrong when they nearly mowed you down.

[Anonymous]

Man, d-bags like that make me really considered carrying around a tote bag full of bricks so if this happens- BAM! Oh, sorry I knocked off your bumper, I was so startled that I jumped and my bag just happened to swing forward!

[Anonymous]

I was hit but not injured in a similar situation a few years ago. I was crossing 13th street in the crosswalk, with the light, and a car came barreling down Q street. They were definitely driving over the limit, so I noticed it, but thought it was probably going straight. The driver took a hard left turn and I realized this car was not stopping and ran. The car swiped my leg and just continued on. It was pretty terrifying.

[Anonymous]

Of course both the driver and the pedestrian need to look out for each other. But I think people fail to think about the role of American regulation as well. In the IS all safety standards are about protecting drivers and passengers in the car — in Europe and other places, car manufacturers need to consider the impact of their designs on pedestrians as well.

https://www.npr.org/2015/10/16/449090584/why-arent-auto-safety-standards-universal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course both the driver and the pedestrian need to look out for each other. But I think people fail to think about the role of American regulation as well. In the IS all safety standards are about protecting drivers and passengers in the car — in Europe and other places, car manufacturers need to consider the impact of their designs on pedestrians as well.

https://www.npr.org/2015/10/16/449090584/why-arent-auto-safety-standards-universal

Good link. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

You were right OP, you still would have been dead if you hadn’t stopped. Just because you are right doesn’t mean the car isn’t the winner in car vs man. In a game of chicken, the car always wins. Even if you have the “right of way”. Don’t be an ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw a young woman (at the time I was, too!) get hit in a crosswalk in Courthouse/Arlington. Driver came down the hill by the Metro and right through the crosswalk. The pedestrian was knocked down but not seriously injured (thank goodness, still not sure how she escaped injury). The driver stayed at the scene but seemed confused by the entire event. It definitely made me more cautious about stepping in front of a car until they are stopped.

I do not step into a crosswalk unless I am sure vehicles are stopped or appear to have applied enough brakes to fully stop by the appropriate time. It does not matter who has the right of way. Car beats no car in life or death. People are killed around here doing what they are supposed to do all the time, even just standing on the sidewalk. I even look both ways before crossing a one-way street. People around here go down the wrong way all the time.