# God Damn Road Pedestrians **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 25, 2001, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211 "2001-04-25T01:16:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2001, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211/21 "2001-04-27T23:52:12Z")
I fully agree that all road users, including (especially) pedestrians, should pay due care and attention. I particularly dislike cyclists without lights at night. Arrest them! Pedestrians should look both ways and cross carefully, not jog in the road. But you worry me with the statement that you can’t stop. Here in England, we regularly have motorway pileups (as I’m sure you do). After an accident, later drivers are going too fast to avoid smashing into the wreckage blocking all 3 lanes. If there are ‘dark spots’, slow down. If you’re coming over a hill, slow down. If you’re in heavy traffic, leave a safe stopping distance. Roads are for convenient personal travel, not for macho bullshit about how big your vehicle is, or how fast you can drive. ---
**Author:** ![Pammipoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/87869e/32.png) [@Pammipoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pammipoo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211/22 "2001-04-28T04:59:46Z")
I can understand that pedestrians have the right of way, but I hate when people are stupid about it. I’ll be going 50 in a 55 zone, and some kid on a bike will dash in front of me, when there’s no one but me in sight. You can’t wait 2 seconds until AFTER i pass? what if my brakes don’t work, or I don’t see you? At 50 mph, you could be toast before I look up and see you there. I used to know this kid who would run across 4 lanes of traffic, leading into a rotary, without crosswalks or walk signals. I’d scream at him from the curb, and his reply? “They have to stop, it’s the law!” Yeah, but just because it’s the law, doesn’t mean you won’t be roadkill in seconds… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.White](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Mr.White](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.White)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211/23 "2001-04-28T05:06:08Z")
Cartooniverse was shitting though his mouth when he said: > [@](#): > > Well, cocksocket, how about if you tell us how well you have your state’s Motor Vehicle Regulations Manual memorized? What does it say about speeding? About blind curves? About right of use and pedestrians? There are ABSOLUTELY some roadways in each state that specifically BAN pedestrian and bicycle use. Aside from that? Read up, cupcake. Cause I’ll tell you right now, I show up in MY fucking ambulance to a scene where you’re standing there all arrogant and Kiss-My-Ass with what’s left of a pedestrian slammed into the nearby pine tree, and you lay that line of shit on me, I’ll do two things very quickly. Hey Asswipe, I don’t have the Motor Vehicle Code for the Great and Beautiful State of Tennessee memorized. Don’t need to. However I do to operate my vehicle in a safe and courteous manner while using common sense, and abiding by the posted speed limits. Most people on this planet have enough common sense not to walk IN THE FUCKIN’ ROAD, especially after dark and wearing dark clothes. If they are kids, Mommy and Daddy (yes, that’s you) need to teach them not to do such things. After all, you did teach them that Mr. Electricity will do bad things to them when they stick a fork in the outlet (didn’t you?) * * * > [@](#): > > 1. I’ll have you arrested for DUI. Period. Nobody in a sane and mentally competent frame of mind would kill a pedestrian, therefore you are either mentally unstable, or DUI. Cupcake, YOU will not have me arrested for anything, unless you are a sworn police office in the Great and Beautiful State of Tennessee. Doesn’t work that way. If a pedestrian is killed by me, IT IS NOT INTENTIONAL!!! Another thing: I don’t even drink, so get the DUI off your shriveled little brain. And anyone that would be happy for being involved in a fatal accident is preverted. I do, however, happen to have a great deal of common sense, a condition of which you apparently will never be accused. * * * > [@](#): > > 1. I’ll make damned sure you’re handcuffed on the way to the hospital. Why? Because only someone who has total and depraved indifference to human life thinks that in a pedestrian-Motor Vehicle accident, the pedestrian is, to paraphrase the above quote, “Taking on a two-ton vehicle” and is in the wrong. If you think you can handcuff me come on, Sweetcheeks. And just because the Walking Darwin Adward committed sucide on the front of my truck does not mean I won’t feel very badly about it. However, he knew he was in the road. He knows cars and trucks are known to travel along roads. He should know that three feet from the curb or the center divider line in a road at night is a very dangerous place. > [@](#): > > If you’re incapable of operating your vehicle in a safe manner, then be a man and surrender your operator’s license to the state DMV. Those of us who do sometimes WALK on roadways will be rather grateful. This does not even deserve an answer, but evidently you need it explained. The purpose of the OP was to address IDIOTS that think a car doing even 10 MPH can stop immediately. I’m not a rocket scientist, but I know that it takes time for the foot to press the brake pedal, and just because the pedal is pressed does not mean the car is going to stop in it’s tracks. Tell me child, do you travel the roads within a 25 mile radius of your home never exceeding 5 MPH??? I think not. > [@](#): > > Oh, and don’t come whining to this board when one of your kids dies because a car slammed into them doing 52 mph on a country road with a posted limit of 35, as your kid rode his/her bike on the shoulder. What, you’re gonna nod in agreement when THAT arrogant self-centered driver says to you in a court of law, " Hey, kid came up against a 3,400 pound SUV and all she was wearing was a fuckin’ helmet, you know who won that fight-sorry Daddy, but ever heard the phrase ’ bumper fodder’?? ". Once again, your ignorance is shining through. You do not know my driving habbits. I drive the speed limit. In fact most of the time on country roads I drive a little UNDER the speed limit. I take responsibility for my actions. The guy walking needs to take responsibility for his actions. Don’t walk in the middle of the road. Common sense and all that. ## And don’t you have enough sense to teach your kids not to play in traffic??? I’ll pray for you. > [@](#): > > Asshole. Dangerous asshole. I’m a dangerous asshole when I FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD? I submit Sir, that you are the dangerous asshole if you insist in walking in the road instead of the edge of the road. You are a danger to me, my passengers and every other person driving an automobile, not to mention the poor pedestrian that was walking in the proper place and got hit when someone had to swerve to miss an idiot like you. People like you are the very best possible argument for Post Birth Abortion. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211/24 "2001-04-28T13:17:54Z")
I, too, am with Harmonious. Pedestrians usually don’t bother me, and I understand their plight because where I live in Kansas City we have horrible sidewalks. Wait, no, let me re-write that–we have NO sidewalks. So the pedestrians have no choice but to walk on the very side of the road, and I drive slowly, very slowly, in case they might trip and fall or something (I’m always aware of those freak accidents). The only time pedestrians really get on my nerve is after school (high school). I drive to school, and when I’m driving home there are kids who dart out into the road right in front of my car and usually smirk at me when they do. I’ve become quite an expert at predicting their every move. Their little body signals that allow me to realize they have a death wish, and prepare me to stop to let them pass. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211/25 "2001-04-28T15:12:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pammipoo \* > I can understand that pedestrians have the right of way, This is fascinating. Just three posts above this is the link to, and the actual text of, the actual law concerning the issue. PEDESTRIANS DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. The reasons for that are pretty obvious and, IMHO, the rest of Pammipoo’s posting elucidates, and very well at that, the reasons for it. The laws of physics might even be coming into play here. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211/26 "2001-04-28T22:26:59Z")
Hey, so we disagree. That’s what the Pit is for. I was reacting to your distain for, and I quote > [@](#): > > Any fool that will take on a two-ton vehicle armed only with a bicycle or a pair of Nikes NEEDS to be bumper fodder I don’t recall suggesting that I’d be negligent enough to encourage my children to walk, or ride a bike, anywhere except on the extreme shoulder of any roadway. To do otherwise would be dangerous to themselves, and motorists 🙂 I used an extremely perjorative word in describing your position ( “bumper fodder” ) because I’ve DEALT with the physical results of MVA’s and pedestrian/car MVA’s. It’s ugly. I just bet that way down in the Great State of Tennessee, YOUR Paramedic’s aren’t fond of people who regard pedestrians as “bumper fodder” either. But then, I wouldn’t know. Last time I was in Tennessee, I didn’t see anyone get creamed by a truck. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211/27 "2001-04-28T22:48:24Z")
Having spent a little bit of time thinking about the back and forth between myself and **Mr White** , I feel like I owe him an apology. ( I’m figuring with a handle like that, the poster is a him, not a her). Even though this is the Pit, there was no call to attack you personally by calling you an asshole. I apologize for that, when others have lit into me with such vitriol, it’s always really upset me. I could have spent a bit more time crafting my words and attacked your ideas without crossing the line and attacking you. I still disagree like all hell with what you say, but making it personal was out of line. I apologize. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Mr.White](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Mr.White](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.White)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2001, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211/28 "2001-04-29T03:51:28Z")
> [@](#): > > I could have spent a bit more time crafting my words and attacked your ideas without crossing the line and attacking you. I still disagree like all hell with what you say, but making it personal was out of line. > > I apologize. Apology accepted. That said, I don’t see how you can disagree with using common sense when either driving a vehicle or walking along the road. As for “bumper fodder”, would you prefer a word that does not bring to mind the carnage that occurs when someone darts in front of an oncoming car? I really don’t believe in political correctness. I say it as I see it. The OP refered to folks that think because they do not want to be hit by a car, they will not be hit by a car, even if they decide to stroll down the center line of the highway. If bumper fodder offends you, next time I will try to come up with a term that vividly(sp) brings to mind all the brains, guts and blood that go flying when someone is hit by a car or truck. Not to mention the nightmares the poor driver has to suffer because some idiot didn’t have the sense not to play in the road. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2001, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211/29 "2001-04-29T04:02:52Z")
Cartooniverse, I really don’t think that the reason the posters here are having such a virilent reaction is because they don’t care. If they didn’t care whether or not they hit somebody, they wouldn’t bohter to rant. The fact is, I and every driver I know has almost hit sombody who jumped out in front of their car, or stepped out of a car on the shoulder, or stood in the middle of the road rihgt over the crest of the hill or right arounda sharp turn. one day I may hit one of these people–and I hail from the old lady school of driving. If I ever do, I am gonna feel guilty about it every day for the rest of my life. So yes, I get pissed at these people that are threatedning to kill themselves and make ME feel guilty about it. And if using graphic terms like “wannabe bubmperfodder” makes it more clear to thes sorts of people just what they are ricking through thier carelessness, then morepower to them. To compare, when an anti-war activist refers to solders as “cannonfodder,” he is drawing attention to (and mourning ) the fact that they have been reduced to merely that, not deriding them. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2001, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211/30 "2001-04-29T12:23:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manda JO \* > \*\* To compare, when an anti-war activist refers to solders as “cannonfodder,” he is drawing attention to (and mourning ) the fact that they have been reduced to merely that, not deriding them. \*\* Well said. \*\* Mr White\*\*, I wasn’t asking you to be P.C., especially if that idea is disgusting to you. Rather, I was upset at the seeming callousness implied in the use of that phrase. **Manda Jo** here has shed some excellent light in that area. I do not for one moment think that anyone here would actually go out of their way to harm someone with their car. It was the _seeming]_ " they’ll get what they deserve off the front bumper of my car" attitude that got me. Ignorance gets treated with education, not death. The nightmares are awful. I’ve hit people because people have hit me. I hit a police officer who was standing on the line that demarks the shoulder from the highway on the BQE here in New York. The nightmares, yes I’m familiar. Not to mention arriving to the aftermath of accidents, as an EMS worker. I’ll tell you this much- in the last few days, I’ve been aware of speeding on the back roads up here. And I’ve been slowing down some. I’ve driven by a few joggers and bikers too. Given em a wider berth than usual. Cartooniverse [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-damn-road-pedestrians/63211.md?page=1)