If you cross the roads at a cross-walk, then you must obey the law of the land. The pedestrian has the right of way except when facing a red light. There are many particulars to this law, which I'm sure many of you are aware. I won't go into them here except to say that it's motorists who are responsible for looking out for pedestrians.
When jay-walking, it's the opposite. It's the motor vehicles that have the right of way. The pedestrians have to watch out for them. Now, with jay-walking being illegal I have never done it, and I wouldn't know the thrills and chills that come with it. But I have friends who have friends...
Now, these friends of friends tell me that when they jay-walk, they look both ways, take a mental note of all cars, and their current speeds. Then they calculate how fast they need to walk, and what path to take to ensure their safety. Their path is calculated based on the current speeds of the cars under the assumption that they will continue to go that speed. Nothing is more frustrating than a "nice" car who slows down for the jay-walkers. This causes the jay-walkers to have to perform last millisecond recalculations and adjust their paths. There is always the possibility that there will be no good, safe way to cross, and by this point it may be too late to safely turn back.
Now, they know this car is just trying to be helpful, and provide an extra measure of safety, but if any car is going to be responsible for the death of the pedestrian, it's the "nice" car.
The best thing for drivers, upon spotting a jay-walker, to do is to keep going as you were before. Keep going your current speed, or accelerate at a normal rate.
The friends of my friends thank you for your consideration.
The best thing for drivers, upon spotting a jay-walker, to do is to keep going as you were before. Keep going your current speed, or accelerate at a normal rate.
The friends of my friends thank you for your consideration.
5 comments:
Interesting topic...I hate to say or rather maybe I am proud to say that I have jay walked before. It usually is an impromtu decision which makes it that much more exciting and challenging.
Yes there must be caution shown when doing it however that comes naturally for some I think...there is just as much of a chance getting hit by a car when the cross walk says you can walk as there is with jay walking...I have first hand experience with that.
So yes, jay walkers be careful, drivers always drive with caution cause you never want to be responsible for a life that was ended or hurt cause of you....and thats all I have to say for now.
Actually, I think that in many cases it's safer to jay-walk than cross at a cross-walk.
At a cross-walk you have to depend on cars not rolling through, something they frequently do.
Whilst jay-walking, you can look and wait for a time when no cars will be there in the time it takes you to cross. So you depend on a car coming out of literally nowhere.
The difference is that, if jay-walking you do get hit, you may get charged for failing to yield to a motor vehicle, or jay-walking of whatever. You'd be at fault. If you get hit on a cross-walk (when you have right'o'way) it's the driver's fault. They get charged. Their insurance pays your medical bills, etc.
You know I hate to tell you after you get hit I dont think you will really care about who gets charged...especially a alot of hits are fatal....
True. But if you survive, you have a good chance of injury. With injury comes costs. Who's at fault will be important in figuring out who pays the cost.
They have car insurance for drivers. Do they have shoe insurance for walkers?
Shoe insurance might not be a bad idea...however do we need insurance for everything? I think that maybe we should say if you can safely jay walk...go for it cause you get places faster. If you cant jay walk safely and are not good at judging distance etc...dont jay walk its not worth the time saved...
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