Vehicle vs. Pedestrian, Redux

Today, I'm writing about a simple change in behavior that will save hundreds, if not thousands, of human lives each year.  It requires no change in the law, and no government or private money to implement.

Here it is:  Show some humility when crossing a street at a non-electronically controlled intersection, look both ways, and yield to the traffic instead of thinking it should yield to you.

I actually touched on this idea in a blog post about six years ago.  Unfortunately, it hasn't caught on.  I'm constantly amazed at how many people enter nonchalantly into uncontrolled (or not stop-lighted) crosswalks, seemingly without regard to the thousand pound steel cannonballs converging on them.  It just happened to me the other day, when a fat man and his dog crossed in front of me without so much as a glance.

Maybe it's just me (it isn't), but when I'm driving, I'm not paying that much attention to a poorly marked pedestrian crossing.  It's just another set of faded white lines.  I'm a lot more worried about the other vehicular traffic around me.  Hell, I'm at least as worried about avoiding potholes, which is in essence me saying I care as much about pavement conditions as I do about crosswalk conditions.

Sure, I know that a pedestrian supposedly has the right of way in a crosswalk.  But in the end, that is a specious argument.  What does that matter?  If my vehicle accidentally hits a clueless pedestrian, I might get a ticket, perhaps worse, but they might be permanently disabled or dead.  Who made out worse?

Given the no-win nature of this outcome, why do pedestrians continue to think it's OK to cross a street without taking the minimal precaution of looking both ways?  I know people aren't raised that way, so what makes them change?

Perhaps this is too broad of a conclusion, but I think today's 'look at me, I'm important' reality show / social media-based culture plays at least a minor role.  You know, the culture in which I'm supposed to care more about what you're doing than I am about what I'm doing.

Please.  In the meeting between vehicle and pedestrian, vehicle always wins.  Do yourself a favor, show some humility, and look both ways before crossing any street.

Vehicle vs. Pedestrian

Des Moines has recently seen a rash of transit bus-pedestrian accidents. In most of these the bus driver has (allegedly) been at fault, and both the driver and transit authority have been the objects of scorn and condemnation.

Without making judgements as to blame, it would seem prudent for people to simply heed the warning I've given my children since they were young: In the battle between the vehicle and the pedestrian, the vehicle always wins. So always assume the vehicle has the right-of-way.

Establishing fault in a vehicle-pedestrian accident might be an important future legal item, but it isn't a major concern to the victim lying in a hospital bed - or coffin.