A Dangerous Time of Day for Ponce Pedestrians
Decatur Metro | September 20, 2010
Photo from around 7:15p yesterday evening. Stopped for a couple pedestrians in the crosswalk ahead.
Photo from around 7:15p yesterday evening. Stopped for a couple pedestrians in the crosswalk ahead.
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I got a nasty look from a pedestrian in the crosswalk when I didn’t see her until almost the last minute. I stopped with plenty of time because I wasn’t going that fast and pointed at the sun so she smiled a waved, but it really is dangerous…
Hate to break the news to you Cleon, but had you hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk, you would have been in the wrong.
In Georgia, a pedestrian in a crosswalk has the right of way. Most drivers are ignorant of this fact, but it’s the law.
Now, pedestrians who don’t look both ways before they cross the street are on a suicide mission, IMHO. But if they wanted to get hit and sue you, they’d probably collect. The law gives pedestrians the right of way in a crosswalk.
I’m fully aware that it would have been my fault.
WTF, Diane? I don’t think Cleon deserved the lecture.
Just to give some of you a measure of comfort behind the wheel, the case law is a bit more nuanced than that. For example, in general, a pedestrian must still exercise reasonable caution when stepping out into a crosswalk such as this one, where there is no traffic light, and cannot simply step out into oncoming traffic, without being held responsible in whole or in part for his/her injuries. However, I always stop, as I’m a risk averse sort. Also, a little known tidbit, the law apparently requires us to wait until the peds have completely crossed the crosswalk, not just the part of the crosswalk in front of our cars, before we proceed.
Just a minor point.
I believe the law requires that a motorist can proceed when the pedestrian is in the other half of the roadway. see section (a) below
§ 40-6-91. Right of way in crosswalks
(a) The driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross 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 and is within one lane of the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For the purposes of this subsection, “half of the roadway” means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel.
(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield.
(c) Subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply under the conditions stated in subsection (b) of Code Section 40-6-92.
(d) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.
I read the first part of subsection (a) to mean the driver has to remain stopped (the “remain stopped” bit). I read the other part of (a) as just telling us when we have to stop at all. There’s probably case law on this which would clear up the ambiguity.
Must…wear….sunglasses…
Another dangerous place in my opinion is the part of West Trinity from Commerce to McDonough where there’s a lot of crossing from the Courthouse, parking deck, City Hall, and south Square on one side to and from Chick Fil-A, DHS, DHA homes and construction, DMV, and parking on the other side. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a pedestrian is just waiting at the curb or about to cross. That doesn’t excuse bad driver behavior but I think sometimes drivers aren’t stopping at the crosswalks because they don’t think anyone is crossing. Meanwhile, the poor driving has made the pedestrians nervous, so they hang back from crossing, which makes it hard for the drivers to know if they are crossing or not. The fact that one is cresting a hill in both directions at the intersecton of West Trinity and McDonough just makes it more dangerous, plus all the car exiting the parking deck that have to wait forever before they get out of there so they come screeching out sometimes when they finally get a chance.
I think that not only should drivers wear sunglasses, but make it a practice to just slow down significantly before approaching any crosswalk, regardless of whether your vision is obscured– better to be going slowly enough so that you can stop, just like Cleon did, than have to slam the brakes on or worse, not be able to in time to avoid tragedy. (Cleon, I appreciated your post, because I know the same thing has happened to me before, too!)
What we need is some sort of city-wide sun shade, like the one from The Simpsons:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xeqk8ZPAg9w/SQHbEClZoKI/AAAAAAAABBA/Egh5LnXsfNc/s400/gallery_Napoleon_Dynamite_1.jpg
Also, any super-intelligent folks wanna figure out what date we get Decatur Henge? MIT has their MIT Henge: http://www.dickkoolish.com/rmk_page/mithenge.html
And then there’s Manhattanhenge: http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/resources/starstruck/manhattanhenge
But yes, wear your sunglasses.
This is a potentially tragic circumstance that can easily be solved with a couple of 77Gig radar buttons in the front bumper. Many cars these days have them and some will not let you hit a pedestrian whether you have sunglasses on or not.
You get the same hazard in the mornings going east.
question for you experts: if a pedestrian is standing on the sidewalk needing to cross at one of the faux-brick crosswalks with the “stop” sign in the middle, but there is a constant stream of cars, what’s the rule? does pedestrian actually need to step out (seems unsafe and unwise) to get the benefit of the “must stop” rule, or should the cars stop when they see you waiting on the side? i’m a pedestrian in this situation almost every morning. i just stand on the side until someone is nice enough to stop (or traffic clears), but that can take a while.
Two sets of laws are in play.
The Georgia state code which says a motorist must stop when a pedestrian approaches a marked crosswalk (or is on the roadway).
And the law of physics which essentially says a motor vehicle’s lethality to a pedestrian goes up exponentially from 20% at 20 MPH.
I suggest that you walk with a nice weighted walking cane and “signal” your intention to cross by holding it’s weighted end at windshield level. You know, so the driver can see it better.
§ 40-6-91. Right of Way in Crosswalks:
(a) The driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross 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 and is within one lane of the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For the purposes of this subsection, “half of the roadway” means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel.
Approaching imples the pedestrian is in the roadway (lane opposite a stopped driver), not approaching the crosswalk, say, from a curb or other safe area.
What I do is I push the stroller out into the road ahead of me before I step off the sidewalk to signal my intention to cross.
I kid! I kid!
Yes it is bad at 8 am the other way as well!
I have a general question about the crosswalks. I know traffic is suppose to stop for pedestrians at the crosswalks that are not at a traffic light, but I thought the walkers at the traffic lights were suppose to wait for a walk signal. I am amazed at the dirty looks I get from aggressive walkers that seem to think you are suppose to stop there as well, one foot in the street glaring at you when you have waited 5 minutes for your green light. Or maybe I am wrong and we have to stop for all walkers at all times there also? anyone know? I guess if they were to venture out through your green light and you did hit them you would be charged with something…. this is a confusing situation.
also, the pedestrian walkways through multiple lanes are really dangerous. sometimes you cannot see the pedestrians until you get right up to the crosswalk because of the traffic in the other lanes. the crosswalks on north ave are downright insane imho.
‘Aggressive walkers’ is the most interesting juxtaposition i’ve read since breakfast.
Hey that’s my term! I’ve been calling myself an aggressive walker for years. And I can back it up, because all this crap I write is forever enshrined on the internet!
I’m not stupid about it, but I do act like the car is going to stop for me, because that’s what it’s supposed to do. Do I actually expect them to? Yes. Do I walk into the intersection before I see them slowing? No. But when I come to an intersection I do my darnedest not to stop and wait.
And I do glare when someone blows by me, but I also wave for the folks who stop.
I guess it boils down to this: I don’t think that pedestrians will ever get any respect unless they begin acting like they belong there.
You’re correct. Walkers should wait for a walk signal at signaled intersections. Unless it’s a situation where the signal is broken, you’re correct and they are in the wrong.
MANY walk signals in Decatur do not work at all. You push the button, and you wait and wait, sometimes through 2 or 3 light cycles. Finally, you decide to go anyway the next time the light turns green for vehicles. It’s a risky situation for pedestrians!
I am curious as to how the recent education/signage of the right of way of pedestrians has affected the actual injuries suffered by pedestrians.
What I mean is, I have seen some people just keep walking right off the sidewalk, which makes one slam on the brakes, and then you get a dirty look from the “pedestrian” which is immediately followed by a middle finger extended by the driver of the car….
Anyway, I would like to see how many accidents are cause by events such as these (like fender benders, actual pedestrians getting hit IN the crosswalks vs. what the stats were previously.
I read about this child hologram idea a few weeks ago. I don’t see how it could be safe, but it seemed liked a really creative suggestion. People are too used to all the typical crosswalk signals which is why they may be occasionally ignored. Obviously this wouldn’t be effective against the light in the picture above (if at all.)
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100903/bc_3d_roadsign_100903/20100903