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

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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
[b]You don't just have the right of way because you are in a crosswalk. [/b][/quote]

That's exactly what it means ididot[/quote]

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. [/quote]

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[/quote]

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. [/quote]

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