# I pit drivers who stop at pedestrian crossings. (Mild)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [April 21, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078 "2007-04-21T16:45:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/1 "2007-04-21T16:45:57Z")
I am NOT talking about intersections, where of course pedestrians have the right of way (as long as they’re not crossing against the light).
The town I live in has a very long, winding foot/bicycle path that crosses numerous back roads and at least a couple of moderate-size highways. You pretty much can’t drive anywhere in town without crossing this path at least once, and usually multiple times. Vehicular traffic is NOT required to stop at most of these crossings (excepting, of course, the intersections with stop signs or traffic lights, where the standard rules apply anyway). Where it just crosses the road at some random point, there are signs on the path telling the peds/bicyclists STOP REQUIRED BY LAW (yes, they actually say REQUIRED BY LAW, as if that weren’t a given).
However, at every such point, almost invariably, some undoubtedly well-intentioned but short-sighted driver takes it upon himself to stop and allow pedestrians who are waiting there to cross (and of course they take their sweet time). These drivers probably think they’re being nice or courteous or something, but what they fail to realize is that their “courtesy” to a handful of pedestrians is causing a traffic backup and inconveniencing a whole lot of other people. This gets really frustrating when it happens multiple times on a simple trip to the grocery store, and again on the way back.
Not to mention that it creates a hazard. As I said, there’s no requirement for vehicles to stop, so if drivers aren’t expecting the vehicles in front of them to stop, the self-styled good samaritan is going to get rear-ended and possibly cause a multi-car pile-up. Last year I nearly killed a bicyclist when the traffic in the oncoming lane had stopped to allow her to cross; it’s a damn good thing I wasn’t changing the radio station or something, and I saw her in time to slam on the brakes.
The rules and laws of the road exist for a reason, and they work just fine when everyone’s on the same page. If you just do what you’re _supposed_ to do, and don’t take it upon yourself to make an exception because you want to be “nice,” then everthing will go smoothly and everyone will reach his/her destination in one piece.
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### Author:  [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/2 "2007-04-21T16:57:21Z")
Hear hear. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been driving in Boston, and some nitwit in front of me _slams_ on his brakes because a pedestrian is standing on the sidewalk, looking like he is thinking about crossing.
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### Author:  [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/3 "2007-04-21T17:07:01Z")
That drives me nuts, too. If vehicular traffic is supposed to stop, it’s always very clearly marked: otherwise, take the damned right-of-way when you’re supposed to!
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### Author:  [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/4 "2007-04-21T17:15:45Z")
[QUOTE=Absolute]
Hear hear. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been driving in Boston, and some nitwit in front of me _slams_ on his brakes because a pedestrian is standing on the sidewalk, looking like he is thinking about crossing.
[/QUOTE]
I inspired a driver to almost cause a serious accident this way once.
I was looking for an address. I stopped on the sidewalk and was squinting at a doorway across the street trying to read the numbers (I _hate_ it when businesses don’t have a street number in plain sight). An idiot in a car slammed on the breaks as if he thought I was about to end it all and leap in front of him, and there was a chain reaction of squealing tires and near-rear-enders. Then the driver started to pitch a hissy fit and flipping me the bird.
I was not an intersection, it was not a marked pedestrian crossing. Hell, I wasn’t even standing on the curb. Ass.
---
### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/5 "2007-04-21T17:22:09Z")
Yeah, some drivers are idiots about this.
Don’t get me wrong, i’m an ardent advocate of pedestrians’ rights. If i’m at a marked crosswalk, and have the right of way, or if i have a walk signal at the traffic lights, then those cars better fucking stop.
But nothing fucks up traffic _and_ pedestrian flow more than drivers who just stop in the middle of the street because some person happens to wander near the edge of the road.
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### Author:  [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/6 "2007-04-21T18:29:38Z")
On the plus side, the increase in random, hard braking has probably improved the average driver’s following distance. That’s something we could use around here, not that I want to be the one doing it.
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### Author:  [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/7 "2007-04-21T19:35:07Z")
[QUOTE=Charger]
On the plus side, the increase in random, hard braking has probably improved the average driver’s following distance. That’s something we could use around here, not that I want to be the one doing it.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph]
As I said, there’s no requirement for vehicles to stop, so if drivers aren’t expecting the vehicles in front of them to stop, the self-styled good samaritan is going to get rear-ended and possibly cause a multi-car pile-up. Last year I nearly killed a bicyclist when the traffic in the oncoming lane had stopped to allow her to cross; it’s a damn good thing I wasn’t changing the radio station or something, and I saw her in time to slam on the brakes.
[/QUOTE]
There’s kinda meant to be enough distance between cars so you can stop without crashing if the one in front does an emergency stop. What if someone did run out in front of them? Stop fucking around with the radio people and drive the dam car.
Other than that point, I agree. I think a lot of drivers are scared of pedestrians though, compensation culture and all that.
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### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/8 "2007-04-21T20:16:34Z")
Laws vary from state to [state](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs16thru17.htm#pedestrians)
> [@California Driver's Handbook](#):
>
> Respect the right-of-way of pedestrians. Always stop for any pedestrian crossing at corners or other crosswalks and at corners with or without traffic lights, whether or not the crosswalks are marked by painted lines…
> A crosswalk is that part of the pavement where the sidewalk lines would extend across the street and it is set aside for pedestrian traffic. Every intersection has a pedestrian crosswalk whether or not there are painted lines on the street. Most crosswalks are at corners but they can also be in the middle of the block.
Note the use of the words other crosswalks, and middle of the block.
Maybe the drivers you are pitting learned to drive in a state where the laws are different.
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/9 "2007-04-21T20:39:39Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph]
Not to mention that it creates a hazard. As I said, there’s no requirement for vehicles to stop, so if drivers aren’t expecting the vehicles in front of them to stop, the self-styled good samaritan is going to get rear-ended and possibly cause a multi-car pile-up. Last year I nearly killed a bicyclist when the traffic in the oncoming lane had stopped to allow her to cross; it’s a damn good thing I wasn’t changing the radio station or something, and I saw her in time to slam on the brakes.
[/QUOTE]
Bravo, dear humorist, bravo! Such a dryly subtle wit is rarely found outside of Algonquin Round Table. No doubt many will mistakenly read this as some bombastic criticism of pedestrians who dare to venture out onto the streets unadorned by the protective shell of an automobile, but at least those of us who share in your rare sense of satire comprehend your lampooning of drivers to obsessed with their audio accompanyment to pay attention to the street in front of them while directing several thousand pounds of steel and glass at velocieis only attainable by the fastest of Nature’s creatures can share in the amusement.
Or, if you’re actually serious in complaining of pedestrians and and cyclists crossing the street at crosswalks and drviers who show the curtesy in respecting such, and don’t deign to consider applying your attention to the road ahead of you, preferring instead to attend to your choice of radio station, furthermore apportioning all fault in the case that such actions result in a collision to the lawful pedestrians and automobile operators who give right-of-way, go get bent and stuff yourself. There are any number a reasons a driver in front of you might reasonably need to execute a rapid stop, legal pedstrians and jaywalkers aside, and as a driver you should be prepared (i.e. paying attention, following at a safe distance, and having your brakes in good operating condition) to respond in kind.
Stranger
---
### Author:  [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/10 "2007-04-21T20:43:11Z")
> [@Licentious Ectomorph](#):
>
> I am NOT talking about intersections, where of course pedestrians have the right of way (as long as they’re not crossing against the light).
Pedestrians always have the right of way.
Virginia State Law:
> [@](#):
>
> 46.2-924. Drivers to stop for pedestrians; installation of certain signs; penalty.
>
> A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:
>
> 1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;
>
> 2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block;
>
> 3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.
>
> B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, at intersections or crosswalks where the movement of traffic is being regulated by law-enforcement officers or traffic control devices, the driver shall yield according to the direction of the law-enforcement officer or device.
>
> No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.
>
> The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.
>
> Pedestrians crossing highways at intersections shall at all times have the right-of-way over vehicles making turns into the highways being crossed by the pedestrians.
>
> C. The governing body of any county having the urban county executive form of government, any county having the county manager plan of government, the City of Fairfax, the County of Loudoun and any town therein, and any city with a population between 110,000 and 115,000, may by ordinance provide for the installation and maintenance of highway signs at marked crosswalks specifically requiring operators of motor vehicles, at the locations where such signs are installed, to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing or attempting to cross the highway. Any operator of a motor vehicle who fails at such locations to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians as required by such signs shall be guilty of a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of no less than $100 or more than $500. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall develop criteria for the design, location, and installation of such signs. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any limited access highway.
I’ve kicked many a quarter panel of cars whose drivers:
Honk before cutting me off when turning right (more often then not when they roll right through red.)
Honk when I’m in the middle of a crosswalk (and all too often that’s in the middle of a block between intersections) but they’re too lazy to take their foot off the accelerator or have trouble operating that roundy steery thingie.
And the number one reason I don’t carry a hand gun:
Drivers who look left before entering a street but don’t look in front of their car where I’m walking on the sidewalk.
I hate, hate, hate drivers like you.
Other people I’ll remember after the revolution.
Your kind: I’ll remember during the revolution!
---
### Author:  [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/11 "2007-04-21T20:56:58Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train]
Bravo, dear humorist, bravo! Such a dryly subtle wit is rarely found outside of Algonquin Round Table. No doubt many will mistakenly read this as some bombastic criticism of pedestrians who dare to venture out onto the streets unadorned by the protective shell of an automobile, but at least those of us who share in your rare sense of satire comprehend your lampooning of drivers to obsessed with their audio accompanyment to pay attention to the street in front of them while directing several thousand pounds of steel and glass at velocieis only attainable by the fastest of Nature’s creatures can share in the amusement.
Or, if you’re actually serious in complaining of pedestrians and and cyclists crossing the street at crosswalks and drviers who show the curtesy in respecting such, and don’t deign to consider applying your attention to the road ahead of you, preferring instead to attend to your choice of radio station, furthermore apportioning all fault in the case that such actions result in a collision to the lawful pedestrians and automobile operators who give right-of-way, go get bent and stuff yourself. There are any number a reasons a driver in front of you might reasonably need to execute a rapid stop, legal pedstrians and jaywalkers aside, and as a driver you should be prepared (i.e. paying attention, following at a safe distance, and having your brakes in good operating condition) to respond in kind.
Stranger
[/QUOTE]
Did you even read what I said? I said I was NOT changing my radio station, I WAS paying attention to the road, and I DID stop in time. There are also any number of valid reasons a driver might take his eyes off the road for a split second, and if you tell me that you never do, and that you are aware of every detail in a 180 degree field of vision at all times, I will call bullshit. People who talk on the phone, eat, put on makeup, or otherwise occupy their attention with matters other than driving are just as worthy of contempt, and I would never defend them. But changing the radio station is hardly unreasonable if one is on a straight road with no obstacles in sight and no reasonable expectation that one will suddenly appear. The pedestrians I’m referring to are NOT being lawful. If you’ll notice what I said, THEY have signs stating “STOP REQUIRED BY LAW.” Blithely stepping out in front of oncoming traffic that has the RIGHT OF WAY is not lawful, and not being encased in a vehicle does not mean that a pedestrian cannot be at fault in an accident, or absolve him of the responsibility to follow the rules of the road that we ALL share. Furthermore, the fact that I pay attention and my brakes are in good operating condition does not give me the sole responsibility to protect people from their own stupidity.
---
### Author:  [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/12 "2007-04-21T21:17:19Z")
[QUOTE=Will Repair]
Pedestrians always have the right of way.
[/QUOTE]
Even when they’re crossing against the light or jaywalking, when oncoming traffic has the green and is in all respects obeying the law and acting in good faith?
With regard to the laws you posted, consider my ignorance fought, but I’m still not certain it fully applies in the situations I’m describing.
> [@](#):
>
> The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway
_Crossing_ such a highway. Not standing beside it.
> [@](#):
>
> No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.
Speaks for itself.
> [@](#):
>
> The governing body of any county having the urban county executive form of government, any county having the county manager plan of government, the City of Fairfax, the County of Loudoun and any town therein, and any city with a population between 110,000 and 115,000, may by ordinance provide for the installation and maintenance of highway signs at marked crosswalks specifically requiring operators of motor vehicles, at the locations where such signs are installed, to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing or attempting to cross the highway. Any operator of a motor vehicle who fails at such locations to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians as required by such signs shall be guilty of a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of no less than $100 or more than $500. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall develop criteria for the design, location, and installation of such signs. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any limited access highway.
There are no such signs for vehicular traffic at these locations. There are, however, signs compelling the pedestrians to STOP AS REQUIRED BY LAW. Whether the statute requiring drivers to stop at “At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block” trumps those signs is a valid question, IMO.
The rest of those points go without saying, such as yielding to pedestrians when turning onto a highway, or following the directions of a police officer, and I certainly wouldn’t argue with them. Also, I’m pretty sure there are laws forbidding drivers to stop dead in the middle of travel lanes, barring emergency or mechanical trouble.
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### Author:  [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/13 "2007-04-21T21:26:21Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph]
Furthermore, the fact that I pay attention and my brakes are in good operating condition does not give me the sole responsibility to protect people from their own stupidity.
[/QUOTE]
Driver A comes to a stop in the road to give way to a loose dog/gigantic pothole/child chasing a ball/broken glass/jaywalker. Driver L, whose intolerance for Gwen Stefani forces him to look down and spend a few seconds selecting a more harmonious accompanyment, rams straight into the back of Driver A, smashing in his car and forcing him into dog/pothole/child/glass/pedestrian. Driver L tells cop, “I’m not responsible for Driver A’s stupidity! He should have just kept going!” Cop says: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
[list=a][li]“Yes sir, you’re absolutely right. Thank you for intruducing me to a novel legal principle.”[/li][li]“Oh, I hate Gwen Stefani, too, but I am going to have to cite you for non-operation of your left turn lamp. Have a nice day.”[/li][li]“While you are technically at fault for the accident owing to negligence in not paying attention to the car in front of you, I know how vitally important it is for you to get your Stouffer’s Turkey Dinner from the store as promptly as possible, so I’ll give you a pass this time. Just do please be careful as you’re pulling around the ambulance.”[/li][li]“Tell it to the judge.”[/list][/li]I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader as to which choice is most likely.
Stranger
---
### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/14 "2007-04-21T21:47:25Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph]
The pedestrians I’m referring to are NOT being lawful. If you’ll notice what I said, THEY have signs stating “STOP REQUIRED BY LAW.” Blithely stepping out in front of oncoming traffic that has the RIGHT OF WAY is not lawful, and not being encased in a vehicle does not mean that a pedestrian cannot be at fault in an accident, or absolve him of the responsibility to follow the rules of the road that we ALL share.
[/QUOTE]
What town/city is this? Is there a crosswalk for pedestrians to use after the stop (as the sign requires) to observe traffic?
---
### Author:  [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/15 "2007-04-21T21:52:33Z")
[QUOTE=Will Repair]
Pedestrians always have the right of way.
Virginia State Law:
[/QUOTE]
The law you quoted says nothing of the sort. It specifies only 3 specific circumstances (marked crosswalks and intersections, as **Licentious Ectomorph** said) in which the pedestrians have right of way, and then says that _even then_:
“No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.”
Pedestrians do NOT always have the right of way, and your own cite proves it.
---
### Author:  [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/16 "2007-04-21T21:56:33Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train]
Driver A comes to a stop in the road to give way to a loose dog/gigantic pothole/child chasing a ball/broken glass/jaywalker. Driver L, whose intolerance for Gwen Stefani forces him to look down and spend a few seconds selecting a more harmonious accompanyment, rams straight into the back of Driver A, smashing in his car and forcing him into dog/pothole/child/glass/pedestrian. Driver L tells cop, “I’m not responsible for Driver A’s stupidity! He should have just kept going!” Cop says: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
[list=a][li]“Yes sir, you’re absolutely right. Thank you for intruducing me to a novel legal principle.”[/li][li]“Oh, I hate Gwen Stefani, too, but I am going to have to cite you for non-operation of your left turn lamp. Have a nice day.”[/li][li]“While you are technically at fault for the accident owing to negligence in not paying attention to the car in front of you, I know how vitally important it is for you to get your Stouffer’s Turkey Dinner from the store as promptly as possible, so I’ll give you a pass this time. Just do please be careful as you’re pulling around the ambulance.”[/li][li]“Tell it to the judge.”[/list][/li]I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader as to which choice is most likely.
Stranger
[/QUOTE]
You just won’t let go of that radio station thing, will you, no matter how many times I say that I was doing no such thing, and in fact was not even _in_ an accident, of my own doing or otherwise?
I _never_ said drivers shouldn’t bother to pay attention to the road 'cause it’s every man for himself. If a driver is in an accident that he could have avoided if he had been paying attention, it’s no one’s fault but his own and I never suggested otherwise. However, if one is driving with all due dilligence, he is not at fault if someone else does something, shall we say, unadvisable, as when a bicyclist unexpectedly (and quite possibly illegally) darts out in front of him.
---
### Author:  [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/17 "2007-04-21T21:58:39Z")
[QUOTE=Ravenman]
What town/city is this? Is there a crosswalk for pedestrians to use after the stop (as the sign requires) to observe traffic?
[/QUOTE]
Vienna. And yes, there are crosswalks. What’s your point? Many, if not most, vehicular intersections in the country have crosswalks. That doesn’t mean pedestrians have the right to cross whenever they feel like it and expect oncoming traffic to stop on a dime.
---
### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/18 "2007-04-21T22:07:02Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train]
Driver A comes to a stop in the road to give way to a loose dog/gigantic pothole/child chasing a ball/broken glass/jaywalker. Driver L, whose intolerance for Gwen Stefani forces him to look down and spend a few seconds selecting a more harmonious accompanyment, rams straight into the back of Driver A, smashing in his car and forcing him into dog/pothole/child/glass/pedestrian. Driver L tells cop, “I’m not responsible for Driver A’s stupidity! He should have just kept going!” Cop says: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
[list=a][li]“Yes sir, you’re absolutely right. Thank you for intruducing me to a novel legal principle.”[/li][li]“Oh, I hate Gwen Stefani, too, but I am going to have to cite you for non-operation of your left turn lamp. Have a nice day.”[/li][li]“While you are technically at fault for the accident owing to negligence in not paying attention to the car in front of you, I know how vitally important it is for you to get your Stouffer’s Turkey Dinner from the store as promptly as possible, so I’ll give you a pass this time. Just do please be careful as you’re pulling around the ambulance.”[/li][li]“Tell it to the judge.”[/list][/li]I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader as to which choice is most likely.
Stranger
[/QUOTE]
Interesting scenario, but not the one described by the OP. He was driving in the _opposite direction_ of the one who came to a full stop in one lane of a two way street _for no good reason at all_. There were no impediments to his path; rather, this bonehead took it upon himself to re-write the rules of the road. Arrogant, obnoxious, dangerous, and possibly illegal behavior.
[QUOTE=LE]
That doesn’t mean pedestrians have the right to cross whenever they feel like it and expect oncoming traffic to stop on a dime.
[/QUOTE]
More to the point, it does not give drivers the right to impede traffic, especially when the pedestrian has made no indication of attempting to cross.
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/19 "2007-04-21T22:09:19Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph]
Vienna. And yes, there are crosswalks. What’s your point? Many, if not most, vehicular intersections in the country have crosswalks. That doesn’t mean pedestrians have the right to cross whenever they feel like it and expect oncoming traffic to stop on a dime.
[/QUOTE]
Pedestrians can’t recklessly run out intro traffic, but cars are required to yield right-of-way for people in crosswalks. That’s the law.
I don’t understand what your point is here: are you saying cars DON’T have to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk? The law quoted below doesn’t support that view at all. Can you provide any cites for pedestrians having to yield to cars when they’re using a crosswalk? If you’re saying it is inconvenient for cars to stop every time someone is crossing the street, I do agree, but traffic laws aren’t based on what is most convenient for drivers.
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### Author:  [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2007, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/20 "2007-04-21T22:11:46Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph]
Did you even read what I said? I said I was NOT changing my radio station, I WAS paying attention to the road, and I DID stop in time. There are also any number of valid reasons a driver might take his eyes off the road for a split second, and if you tell me that you never do, and that you are aware of every detail in a 180 degree field of vision at all times, I will call bullshit. People who talk on the phone, eat, put on makeup, or otherwise occupy their attention with matters other than driving are just as worthy of contempt, and I would never defend them. But changing the radio station is hardly unreasonable if one is on a straight road with no obstacles in sight and no reasonable expectation that one will suddenly appear. The pedestrians I’m referring to are NOT being lawful. If you’ll notice what I said, THEY have signs stating “STOP REQUIRED BY LAW.” Blithely stepping out in front of oncoming traffic that has the RIGHT OF WAY is not lawful, and not being encased in a vehicle does not mean that a pedestrian cannot be at fault in an accident, or absolve him of the responsibility to follow the rules of the road that we ALL share. Furthermore, the fact that I pay attention and my brakes are in good operating condition does not give me the sole responsibility to protect people from their own stupidity.
[/QUOTE]
If you hit them you’d probably get the ticket. I had a car stop come to a dead stop in front of me for no reason whatsoever and I hit him and I got the ticket. I was told you have to keep your car under control at all times. :rolleyes:
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