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[Article] If I’m at a crosswalk, do drivers have to stop even if the lights aren’t flashing?
(www.theglobeandmail.com)
this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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It doesn't matter how legal it is or not. If a driver is expected to stop because I'm crossing but doesn't and I'm crippled or dead, that law means very little to me.
We should instead design crosswalks that are inherently safer. Ones that force drivers to slow down and look for pedestrains regardless of some flashing lights that may or may not work with a beg button.
Raised Crosswalks are amazing!
Hoboken has seen pretty good success with daylighting and “20 is plenty”
Ahhh, the 'ol "I'm too lazy to push a button (in my city wave in proximity of touchless sensor) to signal my intent on behalf of my own safety but roads are still super dangerous so let's make everyone else suffer" defense.
My way we have these dynamic, responsive systems for high viability and they work great in my city. I can see a pedestrian wanting to cross 3-4x the distance and have tons of time to stop not just safely, but casually safely. They're awesome and I've advocated for this tech in the past.
It's great tech the city installed for pedestrian safety. Signal intent; Push the button.
Hmm, good PSA slogan.
Edit: Crossed my mind this article seems written to rile up a specific marketable demographic. Everyone here knew the answer before reading anything. I'm guessing doubleclick/google has some more data points on a bunch of us to sell ads to... Just say'n.
Ahhh, the 'ol "I'm in too much of a hurry to pay attention to others who aren't able to kill me in my 2 ton vehicle. I need someone to shine flashing lights in my face for me to notice anything outside my lane" defense.
See how that works?
The truth is, if things were designed properly, pedestrians would never be trying to cross roads where cars are able to go over 15mph.
Lmao "good tech" my ass. There is a beg button in my town and about 1% of drivers completely ignore it. That is way too many people just speeding through.
Had to look up what a beg button is. Lmao, dude... no. 🤣 Remember how long everyone had to wait before button and sensors entered the game?
Anyways, 1% ignore rate would imply the other 99% work. Betting those stats don't improve if you don't tap that button.
1% means over 100 people every day ignore the beg button and blast through. 1% is a lot of people.
And if 10% "blast through" without that additional warning, that button is making a difference.
Society is a balance of compromises and to take a all-or-nothing stand, especially against safety and assistance technology, is laughable.
Remember to appreciate the little victories too.
1% means the solution doesn't work by itself. We need elevated crossings, narrower lanes, traffic lights that priotize non-car road users. I am not going to appreciate a solution that trusts that drivers are paying attention without making them uncomfortable enough to FORCE them to pay attention.
I live in a county that has everything you just listed. The lights still work great and the best.
There are a few drawbacks to some other things you mentioned, but its my experience people in this community don't want to hear facts that don't support their desires.
Also, that isn't forcing drivers to pay attention. That's just adding more obsticals, chicanes, and distractions we have to pay attention to besides pedestrians. People only have 100% alertness, now more is diverted to hazard avoidance than looking out for pedestrians.
I didn't know the answer because we don't have anything like this in the UK. Here, we have crossings controlled by traffic lights, where pedestrians press a button and the lights will eventually turn red to stop traffic. And 'zebra' crossings where pedestrians have automatic right of way and it is an offence not to stop if someone is waiting to cross.
This seems to be a weird Canadian hybrid where pedestrians have automatic right of way but drivers pretend they don't know that unless a flashing light is there to remind them?