# I pit drivers who stop at pedestrian crossings. (Mild) **URL:** \ **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:** 6
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/101 "2007-04-24T03:00:19Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] Is that the correct way to cross the street in your opinion? [/QUOTE] I would say “yes”. I _know_ how fast I walk. I _know_ how long it will take me to get across the street. I can judge how far away the approaching car is and roughly gauge its speed, and make a rational decision as to whether or not it’s safe for me to begin crossing the street. If I see that I can be out of the path of the approaching car before it reaches me, I proceed. If I gauge that the car will have to come to a stop (suddenly or not), I wait for it to pass. What I trust is that the driver is not going to _speed up_ after I’ve determined I have time to cross. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/102 "2007-04-24T03:06:36Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] The way I read all these laws, traffic has the right of way until the pedestrian _actually steps into the roadway_. [/QUOTE] That’s insane. If that were the case, you would have to step in front of a car and just _hope_ that it stops. It’s not safe to step into the street until the cars have stopped. You’re basically saying that the only way to exercise ones right of way is to step out into traffic. I can tell you from personal experience that there are way too many maniacs out there on the road for that to be an even _remotely_ safe thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/103 "2007-04-24T03:09:09Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] I would say “yes”. I _know_ how fast I walk. I _know_ how long it will take me to get across the street. I can judge how far away the approaching car is and roughly gauge its speed, and make a rational decision as to whether or not it’s safe for me to begin crossing the street. If I see that I can be out of the path of the approaching car before it reaches me, I proceed. If I gauge that the car will have to come to a stop (suddenly or not), I wait for it to pass. What I trust is that the driver is not going to _speed up_ after I’ve determined I have time to cross. [/QUOTE] How about you guys not jumping in on other people’s arguments? You’re saying something different from what Opal is saying, and my question was directed at Opal. But to address what you’re saying, this idea that you’re supposed to dodge the cars when the law clearly states that you have the right of way is fundamentally wrong in my opinion. Why even bother to give the pedestrian the right of way if that’s how you’re crossing the street? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/104 "2007-04-24T03:15:19Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] So you tell me if this is what you’re saying: It sounds like you’re suggesting that a pedestrian look for a gap in traffic, then proceed into the crosswalk. BUT, you’re quite adamant that the gap doesn’t have to be big enough for you to get past the car without it stopping; the gap _only_ has to be big enough so that the car doesn’t have to “slam on the brakes”. Is that right so far? If so, let us proceed. Then what you are saying is that a pedestrian is supposed to step into the path of the car, and then what? just _trust_ that the car will stop? I’m just trying to understand your position here. Is that what you’re saying? Is that the correct way to cross the street in your opinion? [/QUOTE] I was in no way “quite adamant that the gap doesn’t have to be big enough for you to get past the car”. Let’s keep things in context, shall we? People were squabbling about the supposed “catch 22” of cars not needing to stop until a pedestrian was already in the crosswalk, but if cars don’t stop to let the person into the crosswalk, then how will they get there? I was attempting to clarify the point that the people on the “already in the crosswalk” side were saying by illustrating a manner in which a pedestrian could get into the crosswalk fairly safely. For me, that “safe gap” would be one where if I hustle (not run, just walk briskly) I could clear the car even if it didn’t stop. I would also, personally, never start crossing a road unless I had a sufficient gap on both sides. But then, I also said that I, personally, feel that it’s dangerous as a pedestrian to cross a busy street (crosswalk or not, law-on-your-side or not) without a traffic signal to stop cars. You, of course, took my statement that it’s dangerous as somehow meaning that it was illegal or some shit (dunno wtf you meant, your words were “that’s utterly wrong”…what is? that it’s dangerous? I’m wrong that it’s dangerous?!), and implied that I felt “Oh, it’s a busy street so the pedestrians are SOL”. I think that you assumed I was on a particular side in this whole argument and then assigned the stated views of other debate participants on “that side” to me, regardless of whether or not I’d actually expressed them myself, and now it’s biting you in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/105 "2007-04-24T03:28:42Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] Dunno. Flashing yellow means “caution”, not yield. [/quote] No, solid yellow means “caution”; flashing yellow means “slow down and proceed with caution.” In other words: > [@](#): > > [Safe Motorist](http://www.safemotorist.com/articles/traffic_signals.aspx) > A flashing yellow light has the same meaning as a yield sign. > [@](#): > > _Don’t know what “wasn’t enough to allow pedestrians off the sidewalks” means._ Bullshit. You’re the one who’s arguing that stopping to allow pedestrians off a sidewalks and into a crosswalk is a reasonable interpretation of the law. Seems the folks on the county board don’t agree. > [@](#): > > _Yes, the law is the law, and the law does not say a pedestrian has to be IN the street in order to have the right of way._ Yes, it does. “Virginia law requires that the driver of any vehicle on a highway yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing a highway…” Until that pedestrian steps off the curb, they are _not_ in the process of crossing. > [@](#): > > - It’s not rocket science. Why would it be such a tragedy to you if someone erred on the side of caution and stopped for a person who wasn’t crossing the street? Is that 5 second delay going to ruin your life? People do this stuff every day and it’s really not a problem.\* No shit. Still not _illegal_ though unless that particlar crosswalk has traffic controls. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/106 "2007-04-24T03:37:14Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] That’s insane. If that were the case, you would have to step in front of a car and just hope that it stops. It’s not safe to step into the street until the cars have stopped. You’re basically saying that the only way to exercise ones right of way is to step out into traffic. I can tell you from personal experience that there are way too many maniacs out there on the road for that to be an even remotely safe thing to do. [/QUOTE] Perhaps your being in car-crazy California has something to do with that? I can tell you from personal experience that there are hardly any maniacs out there on the road for stepping into traffic to be an even remotely dangerous thing to do. I’ve only encountered two around here and I was in the middle of a crosswalk both times! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/107 "2007-04-24T03:52:16Z")
Correction: three. The third time I was also in a crosswalk. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/108 "2007-04-24T04:38:03Z")
Okay, so I have a (legitimate) question. I’ve read most of the topic but I have to admit, a lot of it got me even more confused. I’m not a driver, I’ll start out by saying, so I don’t know ALL of the driving laws, however I do know a bit more (I think) then other non-drivers. What, exactly, is a legal crosswalk then? As in, one that cars have to stop (both sides) if somebody is crossing? I know that school crosswalks are like this…those have signs too. But what else is a “marked” crosswalk? I’m asking because there’s this crosswalk right outside the apartment complex I live in. In fact, you can even see it if you go to MSN live maps and type in the address 3319 North 7th Ave, Phoenix Arizona (no worries, it’s not a specific address, it’s the address of a BUILDING of about 15 apartments, none of which are mine) and look to the left of where the marker is (the crosswalk that runs east to west). NOBODY ever stops for this crosswalk. Nobody. A person can be standing right in the middle of the street ON THE CROSSWALK (where the turning lane is) and cars will zoom by on both ends. This baffles me because it’s clearly marked just like school crosswalks are. I mean in that painted line pattern. So…uh…is this not a crosswalk that cars should be stopping at if someone is currently in the middle of it? And yeah, I’ve read the first page of this topic and know that, in the OP’s case, the person was waiting to cross, not actually in the crosswalk yet. But I seem to have read a few posts in here that said, even barring someone walking across, cars shouldn’t have to stop. And no, there is no, bikers/peds are required by law to wait sign either. It was always my understanding that if someone is in one of those crosswalks and crossing the street, the cars must stop on both sides. Nobody hardly ever does at this one and most drivers actually beep the horn, yell at you, and give hand gestures that isn’t the peace sign. One girl actually was hit a few years back (crossing the same walk) and she didn’t live. So if I’m mistaken, I hope someone can clear it up for me. If I’m not, then FUCK those drivers who don’t give the right of way to pedestrians at those actual stops (note, this is not a “fuck you” to the OP as the cases are different). I’ve been nearly run over myself many times at that walk. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/109 "2007-04-24T04:52:14Z")
Well duh, it’s 7th Ave in Phoenix! Close to the center of town! Of course nobody stops! Drivers in Phoenix are just scary in general, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/110 "2007-04-24T05:10:04Z")
Hahah, true that. I forgot you used to live here, **Opal**. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/111 "2007-04-24T07:23:36Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] How about you guys not jumping in on other people’s arguments? You’re saying something different from what Opal is saying, and my question was directed at Opal. [/quote] This is a discussion forum with multiple participants, not private e-mail. And technically, you are being contrary to what just about everybody else is saying, anyway. Opal and I (and many others) are saying essentially the same thing: the pedestrian is not “crossing the road/street/highway” until he or she has actually stepped onto the road/street/highway. In fact, in Washington (and perhaps in other states) a car doesn’t even have to stop for a pedestrian who is in the crosswalk until that pedestrian is within one lane of the car. So if I’m crossing a three-lane street, stepping into the left lane, traffic in the far right lane doesn’t have to stop until I’ve entered the middle lane; as soon as I enter the far right lane, the traffic in the left lane can legally proceed. > [@](#): > > But to address what you’re saying, this idea that you’re supposed to dodge the cars when the law clearly states that you have the right of way is fundamentally wrong in my opinion. Why even bother to give the pedestrian the right of way if that’s how you’re crossing the street? There is a huge difference between “dodg[ing] the cars” and “waiting my turn”. I don’t know who said it originally, but I’ve always loved this quote: “In America we have many rights that are worth dying for. The right of way is not one of them.” ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/112 "2007-04-24T10:12:23Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] Some people in this thread seem to be arguing that unless the pedestrian is already _in_ the crosswalk, that drivers don’t have to stop. [/QUOTE] Only because every statute cited says so. > [@](#): > > This presents quite the Catch 22 for the pedestrian. If he stands at the curb and patiently waits for the cars to stop, and they never do, he can never cross the street. If he just brazenly walks out into the crosswalk, then he gets hit by a car because that driver (by your reasoning) isn’t required to stop for him, since he “darted into traffic”. This is what’s known as a false dichotomy. Those choices are not the only two. The pedestrian can wait until is is safe to cross; i.e., until no cars are close enough to hit him. > [@](#): > > Duh. Did I say anyone has the right of way at a red light? You said > [@](#): > > The person crossing the street unambiguously has the right of way. You offered no caveats. I showed you an example of a person crossing a street who unambiguously does\* not\* have the right of way. Duh. > [@](#): > > Wrong. Maybe in California, but not in the other 49. How is a driver to know the intention of someone standing on a sidewalk? > [@](#): > > That’s a different issue. I’m talking about people who ARE waiting to cross. Again, how can you tell? > [@](#): > > You’re suggesting the absurd idea that you don’t have to stop unless the pedestrian is already IN the street. But it’s unsafe for a pedestrian to just blindly go out into the street unless he can see that the cars are going to stop for him. Catch-22 for the pedestrian. Absurd. Already debunked. There are more than two choices. > [@](#): > > Nope - that’s not how it works. If you can clearly see that a person is attempting to cross the street, you should stop. Aside from everything else, it’s just plain rude not to. Oh, it’s bad manners now, is it? Are you really keen on legislating politeness? Does the government have to do _all_ your thinking for you? Oops. Sorry. Obviously a rhetorical question. > [@](#): > > This is not a discussion about jaywalkers. Try to keep on the subject. Actually, it is. See my cited definition above. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/113 "2007-04-24T13:13:42Z")
Our school has one of these “mysterious” crosswalks with a sign and everything. Crosswalks with a sign that says 'Pedestrian Crossing" seems pretty clear to me that the pedestrian has right of way. I cross this street several times a day, and almost every day some yahoo blows through and almost hits me. Sometimes there is like 30 people or more crossing (busy campus) and people come right up to the pedestrians real fast and stop suddenly. I know it is a pain to sit and wait for people to cross, but it is in the middle of campus, and the sign clearly is marked for pedestrian right of way. I think these people that don’t want to stop should be pitted (the ones in my story, not the OP). ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/114 "2007-04-24T13:29:52Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] I feel the same way about drivers who simply slow down when they see me. In fact, I think they’re even worse. Hey, I’m a grownup. I’m not going to suddenly dash out in front of you, and even if I did, I don’t think it’s going to make a whole lot of difference if you plow into me at 20 MPH instead of 30. All you’ve accomplished by slowing down is that now you’ve allowed the traffic behind you to catch up and fill the gap that I was planning to cross in, because I’ve been carefully watching traffic to figure out the safest time to cross. (I’m talking about streets and roads that I’ve walked for years, and so I’m familiar with the traffic patterns and I’m pretty good at timing my crossings.) [/QUOTE] I can’t agree with you about this one. Sorry, but _I don’t know you, or anyone else on the road_. You’re a total stranger, and sadly, I see people dart out into traffic with only a cursory glance, expecting traffic to stop for them, all the time. So when I’m in an area where people walk a lot, I’m pretty careful to slow down below the speed limit. I’m not protecting you (though it works like that, too), I’m protecting _me_. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/115 "2007-04-24T13:48:29Z")
[QUOTE=smiling bandit] I can’t agree with you about this one. Sorry, but _I don’t know you, or anyone else on the road_. You’re a total stranger, and sadly, I see people dart out into traffic with only a cursory glance, expecting traffic to stop for them, all the time. [/QUOTE] That’s the opposite of what **Phase** was saying: > [@](#): > > I’m not going to suddenly dash out in front of you…I’ve been carefully watching traffic to figure out the safest time to cross. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/116 "2007-04-24T13:55:05Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] That’s the opposite of what **Phase** was saying: [/QUOTE] I know it’s the opposite of what he’s saying. I’m saying I don’t trust some random stranger on the street, because I’ve seen them do it repeatedly. Granted, I hang out around the University of Tennessee, so my sample is a little unusual, but the point is that I have direct experience with having to dodge careless pedestrians, so I drive slow. Sometimes, they look like they’re about to cross and don’t, and sometimes they seem to plan for the absolute worst time to dart across. Why? No idea. But I take precautions against any possible error, because I could kill somebody if they do. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/117 "2007-04-24T15:09:55Z")
Man, you guys got it easy. When I go out jogging I don’t know how many mother fuckers won’t stop at the limit line when I’m getting to an intersection. One of these days I’m going to run right across someone’s hood. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/118 "2007-04-24T15:29:11Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph] …I’m still not certain it fully applies in the situations I’m describing. [/QUOTE] It’s just that your complaint invoked mine about drivers who are in such a hurry that they act like losing two minutes robs them of any time for sex.🙂 [QUOTE=Absolute] Pedestrians do NOT always have the right of way [/QUOTE] That seems to be true in Orlando, Florida. Two drivers here who killed pedestrians were not charged because the street lighting was dim. [QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] Allow me to tack on “Drivers who _only_ look left before entering a one-way street but don’t look right where no traffic is coming from and where I’m walking on the sidewalk.” [/QUOTE] This seems to be only a problem in ligatious America. In other countries drivers watch where they’re going but in America drivers watch out for getting hit. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/119 "2007-04-24T15:36:32Z")
[QUOTE=smiling bandit] I know it’s the opposite of what he’s saying. I’m saying I don’t trust some random stranger on the street, because I’ve seen them do it repeatedly. Granted, I hang out around the University of Tennessee, so my sample is a little unusual, but the point is that I have direct experience with having to dodge careless pedestrians, so I drive slow. [/QUOTE] Ah, okay. You agree with his practices but not those of college students who apparently are still in “I’m invincible!” mode? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078/120 "2007-04-24T17:32:04Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] Ah, okay. You agree with his practices but not those of college students who apparently are still in “I’m invincible!” mode? [/QUOTE] I believe he’s trying to be safe, and I wish my practices didn’t annoy him. But I’ve seen enough people simply assume I know they’re planning to casually dash across the street that I won’t take the chance. I’m sure he’s doing the safe thing; I just don’t know whether it’s him or an apathetic college student. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-drivers-who-stop-at-pedestrian-crossings-mild/401078.md?page=7)