What is it with idiot drivers and crosswalks?

[3DisneyBuggs]

In my city yielding to the ped. is the law, some intersections even have signs saying this. I always stop for people crossing and the people behind me always start blowing their horn. I've witnessed so many near hits of ped, it's not funny. It really makes me angry.My Dad was hit by a car in a shopping center and knocked onto the ground. This woman(animal) was worried about her mirror and said he hit my mirror.Luckily my Dad was not seriously injured but he did get hurt. I thought htis only happened here in NYC, I thought other parts of the country were more civil.

 

[miss_elphie]

Ugh- crosswalks. The one near our house is terrible. We have an elementary school right across the street from our neighborhood, and the crosswalk is clearly marked (as is the school zone in general). It even has a set of flashing yellow lights at the intersection just left of the crosswalk. But unless there is a designated crossing guard out there, people rarely stop (often it's even hard for the crossing guard to make them stop). One day I decided to walk and conduct an experiment to see just how many cars it took for one to stop. So much for that. I waited through 23 cars before running across during a break. We desperately need a real stop light over here.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It had me stewed the earlier comment about Target practice.

All I could think about was the 2 little girls who were killed in Orlando last year. They had the right of way--they were in the cross walk..mom pushing them in their stroller as she decided to take an afternoon walk. All traffic signals indicated walk--so they walked. A driver not paying attention (and on the cell phone!!!) ran a red light and plowed the girls. They both died.

Yeah--target practice is fun, isn't it. NOT!

Original story:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...,1,4673954.story?coll=orl-news-growth-utility

The driver did end up getting charged with 2 counts of vehicular homicide. Her trial was delayed. I am unable to find anything on the outcome.

 

[jgmklmhem]

In all fairness to the pedestrians, it can be confusing. Around here, not all the crosswalks infront of stores have 'stop' signs. If they don't, it means that the pedestrians are supposed to yeild to traffic, not the other way around. But since it's not consistant, they usually assume that they can cross no matter what.

As far as I have read in most states if a crosswalk is painted on the road/parking lot etc even with no stop or yield sign present the pedestrian has the right of way.

IL Law
When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Florida laws as pertaining to my situation at Wal-mart:

Stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks
(Section 316.130, F.S.)

When traffic signals are not present or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle must yield the right-of-way, slowing or stopping if necessary, to pedestrians crossing within a crosswalk upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.

A driver may not overtake another driver stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk. (A pedestrian may be crossing in the crosswalk, hidden from view by the stopped vehicle.)

Driver responsibility to exercise care
(Section 316.130, F.S.)

Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or any person propelling a human-powered vehicle and give warning when necessary and exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused or incapacitated person.

Note--While I was not in the "half" of the roadway the driver should have been on--she was trying to zip by in the middle of the road--so she entered "my half".

 

[sleepyone]

I get so upset with walkers in my neighborhood/town. Is it just here or do people see the stripes and just start walking without looking both ways? I agree that drivers should go slowly and use caution at walk-ways. BUT, It doesn't matter if you have the right of way. Please look before you cross & teach your kids to look. If you have the right of way and get run over, it won't matter that you were "right" in crossing. You or your family may be able to sue to prove how right you were but, you could be seriously injured or worse. I'd rather stand at the stripes in front of Wal-Mart and wait for a driver to wave me past than to chance it. Especially with my kids.

It's so scary here with kids just darting across streets and playing in the middle of the street. I think the school needs to teach the kids how to cross the street safely because, it's obvious the parents in my neighborhood aren't.

Please look both ways. I saw a little boy the other day almost get run over because he decided to run across the street to meet a friend after school dismissal. A car coming from the other direction couldn't see him because he was crossing at a (blind) curve in the road.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You or your family may be able to sue to prove how right you were but, you could be seriously injured or worse. I'd rather stand at the stripes in front of Wal-Mart and wait for a driver to wave me past than to chance it. Especially with my kids.


Please look both ways. I saw a little boy the other day almost get run over because he decided to run across the street to meet a friend after school dismissal. A car coming from the other direction couldn't see him because he was crossing at a (blind) curve in the road.

Which part of my story did you not understand.

1. YES--my family could have been injured that is precisely my point

2. I ALWAYS stand and wait for clear traffic. I don't know why you think I didn't.

3. I did look both ways. I do appreciate the tip though. I looked to my left--a car stopped and waved us. I looked to my right--a car slowed to a virtual stop and turned. It was AFTER I stepped into the road that the car behind her became impatient and acceralated to bypass her.

Seriously--I feel as though you are placing the "blame" on me when I did EVERYTHING appropriate to keep my children safe. I do not appreciate the suggestion that I had disregard for maintaining their safety. My situation was not like a little boy failing to look both ways before crossing the street.

Nowhere did I mention a lawsuit--and nowhere was I trying to prove anything. The discussion continued over right of way and I just posted what my state had.

The story I posted--the mother had absolutely NO time to prevent her children from getting hit. Traffic was stopped--it was a red light--the crosswalk indicator said she could go. When traffic is stopped an you proceed in the road--you don't expect a vehicle coming at full speed to blow the stop light and murder your children.

But I'm sure you blame her as well for not looking both ways.

 

[sleepyone]

Which part of my story did you not understand.

1. YES--my family could have been injured that is precisely my point

2. I ALWAYS stand and wait for clear traffic. I don't know why you think I didn't.

3. I did look both ways. I do appreciate the tip though. I looked to my left--a car stopped and waved us. I looked to my right--a car slowed to a virtual stop and turned. It was AFTER I stepped into the road that the car behind her became impatient and acceralated to bypass her.

Seriously--I feel as though you are placing the "blame" on me when I did EVERYTHING appropriate to keep my children safe. I do not appreciate the suggestion that I had disregard for maintaining their safety. My situation was not like a little boy failing to look both ways before crossing the street.

Nowhere did I mention a lawsuit--and nowhere was I trying to prove anything. The discussion continued over right of way and I just posted what my state had.

The story I posted--the mother had absolutely NO time to prevent her children from getting hit. Traffic was stopped--it was a red light--the crosswalk indicator said she could go. When traffic is stopped an you proceed in the road--you don't expect a vehicle coming at full speed to blow the stop light and murder your children.

But I'm sure you blame her as well for not looking both ways.

My post wasn't directed at you. There was no ill will meant toward anyone. It was just a general post to anyone that would read it, for people to look both ways. I didn't even read the story with the children being murdered that you posted. As I wrote, it's just a bad situation in my area where people just walk without looking. I was hoping someone would read what I wrote and instead of just assuming (as people seem to do in my area) that a car is stopping/doesn't see you/etc...to look both ways and use caution before crossing instead of just darting across.

If someone would have almost run me over, as they did you, I'd be angry too.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I always stop for people in crosswalks and when people are trying to walk from a parking lot to a store, especially if it's raining, they are elderly, or have young children with them. Seems the polite thing to do.

As far as "target practice" a few weeks ago my DH and DD were driving home from Costco and came upon someone lying in the street, covered with a blanket. Of course they knew right away it was a dead person. I never found out the details of the accident, but it appeared that it was a pedestrian. They were in a crosswalk at a traffic light--no idea if they had a "walk" signal or not, but that intersection now has one of the timers on the walk signal that shows when the walk is getting ready to turn red.

The spray paint showing where the body was is still there and is a reminder to slow down, pay attention, not talk on a cell phone when driving and to drive as if someones life depends on it, because it does.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My post wasn't directed at you. There was no ill will meant toward anyone. It was just a general post to anyone that would read it, for people to look both ways. I didn't even read the story with the children being murdered that you posted. As I wrote, it's just a bad situation in my area where people just walk without looking. I was hoping someone would read what I wrote and instead of just assuming (as people seem to do in my area) that a car is stopping/doesn't see you/etc...to look both ways and use caution before crossing instead of just darting across.

If someone would have almost run me over, as they did you, I'd be angry too.

I apologize for directing my anger at you then. I did really think you were specifically addressing me b/c of your mention of walmart, young children.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I nearly was hit by a car as I was leaving the grocery store last Sunday morning. I just shook my head and pushed my cart to my car. A few minutes later a woman came up to me and asked me if I would accept her apology. She just wasn't paying attention like she should have and she really should have stopped for me. She told me she wanted me to think that she was a Christian woman and not something else. I told her that I appreciated what she said and that it was okay.

Surprised me. Some people can be nice about being stupid.

 

[sleepyone]

I apologize for directing my anger at you then. I did really think you were specifically addressing me b/c of your mention of walmart, young children.

It's okay, I know it's hard to understand the tone of posts on the internet.

Nah, I meant me and my babies. Mine are 8, 3, and 2 so, I have to be super careful with my two youngest (the youngest has no fear except for the characters at WDW). Making sure to carry them, hold their hands, or put them in a cart that's been left in the parking lot.

I've said to my husband that they should build a walkway that goes over the striped area or totally block it off to cars in some way. I totally understand what you're saying. It's crazy how people simply don't seem to care or don't show courtesy any more.