Never make the assumption that you have been seen, and, even if you have been seen, that the vehicle will stop for you…

If pedestrians would have their heads on a swivel there hardly should be any accidents. Have your head on that swivel even in a cross walk. Pedestrians and cyclists seem to forget they are in close proximity of thousands of pounds of metal. Dead right.

I do a lot of walking and a lot of drivers just do not want to stop for a pedestrian !

Blame the victim because some buffoon forgets that he is operating a vehicle within the city limits. How does that “head on a swivel” nonsense work if the driver is speeding, drunk, impaired, distracted or just plain dumb? Yeah right. Spoken by somebody who hasn’t walked further than their vehicle parked in the driveway. In fact don’t you quite often whine about pedestrians and people who jog or walk for exercise.

Kind of like blaming the rape victim for not taking proper precautions when walking in a bad area. Whoever has the most power in this situation, has the most responsibility – and that’s the vehicle. Most of my pedestrian and cyclist close calls have come from a vehicle who is looking past me, to where they want to go, and are generally rolling through the stop sign with no intention of stopping unless they have to (i.e., there’s a vehicle coming and they could get hurt), and they just don’t see me, in spite of a fluorescent yellow walking jacket or flashing strobe lights on the bike. Drivers, most of us, are just sloppy now. We don’t stop at stop signs, we anticipate light changes, when pedestrians are on cross walks, we roll toward them assuming they’ll be gone by the time we get there. And speed limits – well, they’re just a suggestion.

And frankly, I think the RCMP should be a little ashamed. Every day these sloppy driving habits are displayed in front of them, done by them, and they just let it go – and then make a media announcement like this when someone dies. If these basic sensible laws were enforced, not only might it save some lives and reduce injury, it might even reduce our insurance premiums. Everyone from a mill worker to a police constable can decide within certain limits just how hard they want to work today, and I think too many of our local members are content to mail it in rather than get out in the rain and write a ticket.

My wife knew one of the deceased, according to her she was a wonderful person, very responsible, and will be missed by many.

It does not matter who is right or wrong, a pedestrian getting hit by a vehicle the only out come is not good. Go back to the basics look both ways before you cross.

Exactly, X-it. It just makes sense to be extra aware when walking. It’s not about victim blaming, it’s about staying alive.

While I can understand both Jimmy Hughes’ & Ski50s’ points of view it really does go both ways. I have lost count at the number of times I have had people walk out in front of me without even a glance up to see if there was traffic, or walk behind my moving vehicle as I am backing up. Pedestrians have to get in the mindset of looking both ways & even then not assuming that a driver will stop for them. Drivers have to get in the mindset that our society has changed, cell phones & MP3 players are not going anywhere. People will continue to use them as they are walking & will continue to be distracted or not hear on coming traffic. Everyone needs to pay more attention to the fast moving world around them.

If you walk on a Sidewalk, the last thing for you to worry about should be Idiots riding Bikes on it! If you can’t ride your Bike on the Road, STAY HOME.

detoe44 – excellent points, Outwest – fully agree – of course, they do it right in front of the police station so clearly they don’t give a crap. Unfortunately you’re average sidewalk bike rider is your average nothing to lose person.

What is this “pedestrian” reference, as if they are some minor segment of society. That would be every person whether they own a car a bike or a tricycle.
If you have had incidences where you have encountered a dopey pedestrian, more reason to remain vigilante. Just as we all encounter drivers who should have their driving licenses revoked.
There is a reason any press release dealing with moose encounters on the highways, is directed at the drivers.

Heh Jimmy that’s why you have your head on a swivel to constantly watch for the drivers you describe. Just how hard is that to understand.

The rest of your post is making an assumption about me that you have absolutely no information on.

I take it you are one of those leotard runners.

Ya I complain not whine like you about the idiotic runners, walkers bike riders who do not pay attention or follow the rules. You one of those?

So Jimmy pedestrians don’t have to pay attention in your world.

I get it, pedestrians should look out for themselves, should wear bright clothing, should walk on the sidewalk – assuming it isn’t covered in ice and impassible. But most accidents take two people to screw up – and we drivers are the ones who can kill when we screw up. My prior post main point is if drivers followed the rules of the road properly, even if the pedestrian screwed up, you wouldn’t hit them. If you stop at the stop sign, and look, you will likely notice the idiot pedestrian in dark clothes walking on the wrong side of the road with ear phones on, and not KILL them. But if you roll through the stop sign, glancing left and right, you will kill them, and they are wrong, and you are wrong.

Wouldn’t it be a tad better if motorists obeyed the rudimentary rules of the road, and not hit the ignorant rule breaking cyclists and pedestrians – I mean I get it, they’re asking for it, but do you really have to give it to them.

Sorry Jimmy, the average human has way more awareness & ability to assess their surroundings to make intelligent decisions than a moose. What you are suggesting absolves pedestrians of any responsibility. Pedestrians who cause an accident are as guilty as a driver who causes one.

Sorry detoe44 you are totally wrong. A driver of a motor vehicle is totally responsible for the saftey of any pedestrian. If they are crossing the road or a child is running out to get a ball, whatever the situation you are responsible for operating your vehicle in a safe matter. If you do not believe that you are responsible then you shouldn’t have the right to drive.

So I take it ski51 a driver should not watch for traffic when proceeding through a stop sign. Why is the stop sign there?

If the ignorant cyclists and pedestrians, your words, obeyed the rules maybe there would be a lot less accidents. Are you saying a driver in a vehicle which by the way has less visibility than a pedestrian only has one responsibility and that is to avoid pedestrians? What about watching road conditions, traffic signs, other vehicles and staying on the road.

Seamutt. Sorry if that wasn’t clear. I asked drivers to stop at a stop sign and look. Not roll through as common practice is which increases chance of hitting a pedestrian whose screwed up vs stopping which reduces risk. If they stop as the motor vehicle act requires someone albeit stupid might survive. If all traffic rules were observed more people would live and insurance would cost way less. It almost sounds like you figure if a pedestrian doesn’t obey the rules they’re asking for it. That’s not your point is it.?

Pretty much, considering unprotected pink soft body. Look at all the recommendations for selfdefence when riding a motorcycle.

F-151, nope I’m not wrong. Read the BC Motor Vehicle Act. It explicitly outlines where a pedestrian will be at fault. Jaywalking, crossing against a light are 2 examples of where the driver would not be at fault. You are correct that a driver must be aware of their surroundings at all times, but there are circumstances when it is beyond the drivers ability to avoid a collision with a pedestrian.

Seamutt. You and your attitude is what is wrong with bad drivers. Accept no responsibility and substitute a backbone with the tinbox import you are driving. In what could be deemed an admission that the vigilance is required solely by the pedestrian, I have run tens of thousands of kilometers around this town and have dozens of incidences where I have only escaped injury by assuming the most idiot maneuver before it was executed in front of me by another dimwit local driver.
The ignorant pedestrians pay a steep price for their carelessness, but poor drivers with little man syndrome simply post their frustrations on the local blog.