While I agree with the sentiment most of you have been voicing (Pedestrian has Right of Way, Dammit!) I feel sorry for Anaamika, seeing how everyone and their dog seems to be enjoying piling up on her. I read her rant as saying, basicly, “You idiot! You’re lucky I was the one behind the wheel there and not some shit-for-brains who could have sent you to kingdom come. Yes, I know you have the right of way – but you do realize that St. Peter ain’t gonna be impressed when you walk up to the gate, dontcha?”
I read it as a rant against pedestrians who take “having right of way” to mean “I can jump into the street at will, because it is the driver’s duty to avoid me.” Well guess what? You’re absolutely right, and you’ll still be just as dead when some idiot driver isn’t being careful enough!
Here in Israel, an auto insurance company once came out with a half-commercial, half-public-service ad that went “On the road, don’t be right; be smart!” This is so true, it has become, within the space of only a few years, a full fledged idiom in the Hebrew language, in all walks of life (minus the “on the road” intro.) Another expression that has entered the language here – “Right of Way is given, not taken” – comes to mind as well.
So - drivers: pay attention. Walkers: pay double attention. Look, I know you’re right, but it’s mostly your ass on the line; don’t let some idiot driver shoot it up for you just because you know he ain’t supposed to do it.
Or, as Ronald Reagan said, in a completely different context: “Trust, but verify!” MAke eye contact with the driver if possible. Make sure they’ve seen you. Then cross in front of the car - after you’re sure the driver realizes you have the right of way!
Sure it does. It would give the pedestrian a better responsibility of their own well being. You’ve to admit, a lot of pedestrians don’t pay attention to traffic all the time. While it’s understood that the driver should give way to pedestrians, many drivers don’t really pay any attention to the traffic either. Why would it be bad to fine pedestrians for not watching their own ass, and possible getting injured in the process? If I knew that I would get slapped with a $500 fine for jaywalking, I’d be sure not to do it again!
I don’t understand all the sympathy for the pedestrian ALL the time, when they can be just as clueless as the driver.
Look, this is getting downright annoying now. Several of you have said this, but I don’t see it AT ALL from the OP. This is what’s in the OP:
Please read that again - very, very carefully. She is saying, plain as day, that it’s STUPID to walk in front of a car that’s “trying to turn right”, because she’s “glancing right but predominantly looking left”.
WHERE DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT JUMPING INTO THE STREET AT WILL? WHERE DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE PEDESTRIAN INSISTING ON THE RIGHT OF WAY?
It doesn’t. It says the pedestrian was “stupid” to walk in front of her car. That’s wrong. What’s stupid is to make a right turn without looking in the direction your car is going. Hence the “pile-on”, as so many of you seem fond of calling it.
Let me explain something again here. It is possible to agree with the above, yet disagree with the OP.
If you want to start a discussion about obnoxious pedestrians, lets start one - I’ve got a few stories about that. But don’t pretend that’s what the OP was talking about. It is NOT overly-aggressive to walk across the street in front of a car that is stopped at the intersection. No, we should NOT be required to slink around behind the car, and NO, it is not arrogant to think so.
Blowero, if the pedestrian was looking he would’ve noticed Ana not looking at him. Either he wasn’t looking or he thought he could make it before she turned.
In either case, the pedestrian made a really stupid decision.
blowero – I went back and re-read the OP. Keeping in mind Anaamika’s general style in other places, I still think she has been misunderstood. Plus I just tend to give people the benefit of doubt. I’m a sucker that way. You disagree with me as to what she meant. Fine, we can agree to disagree there. And you may be right – she may have behaved poorly and may not be in a position to rant about it. But I see this as the minor point in the larger discussion that has developed.
I think we both agree on this wider issue – namely, that while as a pedestrian you always have Right of Way at crosswalks, the fact that you are far more vulnerable than the driver suggests that it may be smarter to wait a few more seconds if you aren’t certain the driver is actually giving you the RoW that you are entitled to. Being right has nothing to do with this advice. Staying alive does. Because the world is full of idiots, and most of them own cars.
I don’t think so. If you still think the “pile-one” was unjust, how about just looking at the thread title. It says, “It’s not wise to walk in front of a turning car.” It DOESN’T say, “You should look both ways before crossing the street”, nor does it say, “You shouldn’t insist on the right-of-way”, nor does it say, “Don’t jump out into traffic without looking.” No, the clear implication is that, merely by virtue of the fact that she intends to turn right, that she believes she ought to be afforded some sort of special dispensation by pedestrians, and even goes so far as to suggest that they ought to have to walk behind her car.
Fair enough. Have a larger discussion if you want; just quit saying that I misunderstood the OP, because I didn’t. Have your larger discussion, but leave me out of it.
I just think you’re arguing against a strawman. Did anyone advocate foolhardiness?
I’m with you here too, with one caveat. The pedestrian has to be in the crosswalk, with the signal, to have the right-of-way. Otherwise, I’m with the Government of the District of Columbia: the driver and the pedestrian share responsibility if said pedestrian is struck.
Sorry, but at least in this state, if there is a pedestrian anywhere in the crosswalk, you’ll be ticketed if you enter it in your car. even if you have the light! feet have the right of way all the time. Stop trying to turn, while there are people trying to walk.
Go to Colombia, where BIG has the right of way.
