# This just in: Crosswalks make you immune to cars **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 26, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114 "2009-06-26T22:42:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/41 "2009-06-28T20:27:35Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Too many people don’t seem to realize that being right and being dead can be concurrent conditions. Here lies the remains of William Jay Who died maintaining his right of way. His mid was set, his will was strong, But he’s just as dead as if he’d been wrong. ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/42 "2009-06-28T20:41:00Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Sometimes the only way to get cars to stop in and around the UIUC campus is to just step out into the street. Obviously keep an eye on them to see if they slow down, but standing waiting on the sidewalk won’t get you too far. > > I wish more people would just step out into the street. It’s annoying when I slow down to let a pedestrian cross, and they wait until I come to a stop before crossing. If they’d just gone, I would have only had to slow down to allow them space. > This is not to say an unexpected 90 degree turn into traffic is wise, which seems is the point of the OP. The problem with the slow-and-let-the-pedestrian-pass maneuver is that it’s sometimes hard to tell if a car is slowing down to let you pass, or just slowing down for the next light, or what. Sure, most of the time it’s not a big deal, but I’ve definitely had times where I wasn’t gonna jump into the street and hope that driver saw me. Especially when the car’s relatively close to the intersection (which is often, in the city), and there’s no room for error if they didn’t see you. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Joe_Meager)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/43 "2009-06-28T21:43:00Z")
> [@Soul](#): > > Because, for reasons I’d rather not get into, I was wearing a set of flashes. So, I pit myself for choosing an asinine time to wear Scottish regalia. Never. Did you have a sgian duh? ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/44 "2009-06-29T01:04:05Z")
> [@bannerrefugee](#): > > Please keep your car out of the cross walk untill I am on the side walk. What is the matter can’t wait your turn? They just did. > > Next time they ought to hit your motherfucking car with a brick. > > Oh and I see your from GA. Even better you probably blew your horn or reved your engine. > > 15 years in Atlanta tells me you are full of shit. Let’s say the story happened exactly as **Soul** told it. After they passed him, he began to roll forward at less than 5 MPH, and that when he got level with them that one had to “leap” back to strike his car. You still think that’s a reasonable reaction to the situation? If so, please move to Japan. Everyone follows the rules to the letter here. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/45 "2009-06-29T01:39:27Z")
I worked several summers inside Chicago’s Greyhound terminal. I may not be entirely immune to cars, but compared with a Scenicruiser driven by a mechanic I was getting high with ten minutes before, I’m just not impressed by some joker in a Lexus. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/46 "2009-06-30T16:56:53Z")
> [@King\_Bobo](#): > > I drive the posted limit (quite slow) but am constantly hitting my breaks [This guy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=522093) wants a word with you. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/47 "2009-06-30T17:40:50Z")
> [@bannerrefugee](#): > > Please keep your car out of the cross walk untill I am on the side walk. What is the matter can’t wait your turn? They just did. > > Next time they ought to hit your motherfucking car with a brick. > > Oh and I see your from GA. Even better you probably blew your horn or reved your engine. > > 15 years in Atlanta tells me you are full of shit. Boy, riding MARTA sure makes one testy. ---
**Author:** ![SomeUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@SomeUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SomeUserName)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/48 "2009-06-30T20:10:11Z")
At least they walked in the crosswalk. On the side streets I travel the kids/teenagers walk right down the middle of the road. They will see me coming and ever so slowly part so I can pass by. They do the same on their bikes. Get the fuck out of my way! When I was kid not only did I use the side walk but I would not dare to deliberately stand in the path of an oncoming car just to prove the pedestrian right of way laws. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/49 "2009-06-30T20:23:10Z")
> [@Soul](#): > > When I was level with them, one of their members wheeled around, leapt towards the car, slammed her palm on my window and screamed “_Watch where the fuck you’re going, you white motherfucker!_” Maybe you should have called in a report of possible prostitution. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/50 "2009-06-30T21:32:44Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Maybe you should have called in a report of possible prostitution. Or just look at her and scream incredulously, “No, I will not PAY you to suck my dick!!!” ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/51 "2009-07-01T10:02:56Z")
What about the dumbasses that think jaywalking is legal? The other day I almost ran into some black motherfucker (YEA I went there) because he was sauntering, yes, SAUNTERING across a five lane avenue with not a whit in the world in a completely random spot. Some dumbshit in the left lane decided to stop to let him cross, and of course I didn’t see him until it was almost too late because he was walking right in front of this car. I slam on the brakes to keep from having Dumb Shit splattered all over the van, and this particulate ass clown **stands in my lane to double flips me off** like he’s flashing some kinda GANG signs. I really should have run him over, I could use the insurance to get another van. ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/52 "2009-07-01T11:50:07Z")
> [@Soul](#): > > Well that’s just crazy. I don’t think she even had a brick. Lets hope she does next time you fuck with her. ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/53 "2009-07-01T11:57:36Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > Let’s say the story happened exactly as **Soul** told it. Why should I? His story makes no sense. Additionally I know exactly the environment in which they were walking and he was driving. Pedestrians and yellow cones are treated about the same way there. He is lying. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/54 "2009-07-01T12:22:41Z")
> [@Soul](#): > > I see your point. I’m sure it did look closer to them than it did to me, because I was the one in control of the situation. This is the problem, I feel. I doubt very much that the laws of the road think that you were the one in control. I have a tendency to hit cars that go over a crossing when I am on it. Normally a good hard slap or a kick. My view is that if the driver wants to make an issue of it, I’ll happily wait for the driver to explain to a policeman what they were doing driving over a crossing within hitting distance of a pedestrian using the crossing. The last time that happened I was in the middle of the fucking crossing (middle of a two lane one-way section) and a woman drove in front of me, not looking and on her phone. The noise of my hand crashing down on the side of her car was immense. I hope it scared the shit out of her. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Am\_The\_Lorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19adc/32.png) [@I\_Am\_The\_Lorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Am_The_Lorax)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/55 "2009-07-01T12:31:36Z")
^Yup. I dented a woman’s van once. I was pregnant with my baby in the stroller, crossing in the cross walk when it was my turn. This ignoramus comes to a screeching halt right over the cross walk about 18 inches in front of the stroller. I kicked her fender hard and cursed her out. She had the nerve to tell me to watch where the fuck I’m going. I completely understand the vitriol for pedestrians who cross wherever and whenever they want to. I’m not one of those. ---
**Author:** ![Soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/56 "2009-07-01T17:08:10Z")
> [@bannerrefugee](#): > > Lets hope she does next time you fuck with her. I mean, don’t you think it’s a bit unreasonable to expect pedestrians to just walk about with bricks? The logistics of that are just absurd. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/57 "2009-07-01T17:53:33Z")
> [@I\_Am\_The\_Lorax](#): > > I was pregnant with my baby in the stroller, How did you manage that? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/58 "2009-07-01T20:58:32Z")
I saw some asshole nearly get killed the other day. They’re crossing Wolf Road, which is a two-lane, 40 mph road. There are crosswalks about, oh, 50 yards in either direction, but they choose to walk directly across the road. So. The right lane of traffic is stopped. So these people start cutting between the cars in the right lane. The left lane cannot see anyone until they literally pop out from between the cars. Indeed, one guy strolls blithely right into the path of an oncoming sedan. I expected to see gore right there. The sedan hits his brakes - thank goodness for good brakes - and honks his horn. The ped turns and gives him a dirty look! And continues ambling across. And behind him come a whole series of men, one at a time, jaywalking, without a fucking care in the world. Wolf Road has gone out of its way to be safe for pedestrians, with ped-friendly lights at every light, and crosswalks, and tons of signs, and brand new sidewalks…but oh no. We are special. We must walk THROUGH traffic. ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/59 "2009-07-03T12:18:30Z")
> [@Soul](#): > > just absurd. Like your shit thread ---
**Author:** ![Soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114/60 "2009-07-03T18:18:46Z")
> [@bannerrefugee](#): > > Like your shit thread If you hate my thread so much, perhaps you could throw a brick at it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-crosswalks-make-you-immune-to-cars/501114.md?page=4)