bad law
Posted by Sherry on November 16, 2007
We have a ridiculous law in Oregon that gives pedestrians the right of way. Sure, they’re supposed to cross in designated crosswalks, but I’ve witnessed enough close calls to convince me people have grown delusional about their own mortality. They will cross wherever they very well please, sometimes not even looking first, and expect cars to come to a halt. I don’t know how long lawmakers have thought it was a good idea to encourage people to own the roads that were actually designed for auto travel, but, come on!, the human body is no match for motorized metal.
Even in crosswalks, people should take caution to wait for cars to stop before they head across the street. It seems like a no-brainer to me.
So Oregon walkers are supposed to know that if the crosswalk is at a traffic-lighted intersection, they’re to follow its particular color. It’s not a suggestion. Cars have the right of way at traffic lights. But if there are lines across the crosswalk, cars will stop for them. But will cars stop for them? Not all Oregon drivers recognize those crosswalks, making them a dangerous place to cross the street. For it to be safe, all drivers in both directions need to stop. And those who are diligent crosswalk observers need to be mind readers as well. They need to be experts in body language. Is that pedestrian planning to cross or is she just watching for a friend coming down the street or looking in that store window. Hmmmm. I’d better not take a chance so I’ll stop anyway. Ah, she’s going to cross. But the car in the lane next to mine reads her differently or doesn’t see her at all and drives right on through.
As an Oregon driver, I can’t avoid crosswalks. As an Oregon walker, I’ll go out of my way to avoid them. Entrusting my flesh and bones to Oregon “safety” laws is not a good idea.
Here’s a video that illustrates a place where everyone understands and observes the safety laws.
Have a nice day! =)
That’s a crazy fun video. Crosswalks are a mess, but I’m not sure if there’s a comprehensive solution. Pedestrians are small, hard-to-see, especially in the evening and night, and they need to take responsibility for their own safety. We’ve got that “it’s not my problem” society full of lawsuits and lack of personal responsibility which leads to all sorts of problems. I don’t believe that’s the source of the law, but it sure doesn’t help.
And don’t forget that by Oregon law, ANY intersection is a legal crosswalk for pedestrians, regardless of whether it is marked with lines as such.
I rest my case!
Oh my gosh–that video is funny. My mom used to tell me about crossing the street on a college campus “sure you have the right away, but if you get hit by a car and you’re dead you really won’t care if you were right.”
I half agree with you. Up here the pedestrian only has the right of way in marked crosswalks. If they cross in the middle of the street, they get the ticket. Both pedestrians and bicyclists drive me crazy in their disregard for rules of the road, especially the guy on his bike who runs the red light IN THE DARK at the intersection I have to pass thru on my way to work. I’ve almost hit him 3 times.
On the other hand, my old walking route took me thru a 4 way stop intersection near our hospital. I would wait sometimes up to 5 minutes for some nice driver to actually stop long enough for me to get across the street. One day I saw a doc on his way to work just step into the intersection, and lo and behold, the cars stopped. It never occured to me to be so bold, but from then on I used his methods, always making eye contact with the driver closest to me first. Worked like a charm. As a driver and walker, I can see both sides.
All I can say is, I miss Oregon’s laws for pedestrians. Here (in PA), to walk is to risk your life!! Cars see pedestrians and speed up instead of slow down. Cars don’t wait until you’ve crossed the street and will roar past you only inches away. Stop lights have a pause between the red light and the following green, because so many cars push through the red light. Driving is crazy here!
You’ve got me there! I’ve experienced Philly drivers and liken it to some countries like India that have NO rules of the road. It’s every man for himself. I guess the point I wanted to make is when law gives pedestrians the right of way, they take it to extremes and cross wherever they well please, making it dangerous to drive as well.