Pedestrians must show common sense
Regarding “Pedestrian safety must start from ground up” (Page L-1, March 1):
My route home from work often takes me through Ridgewood, and it is a white-knuckle driving experience after the sun goes down. Pedestrians dart out from between parked cars, cross at unmarked crosswalks and give no indication of planning to cross until a car is practically on top of them.
Many also wear dark clothing that makes them difficult to see. Combine these dark-clad wraithlike figures with the blinding quality of today’s headlights, and it’s a wonder the number of pedestrian deaths isn’t higher.
I’m all for yielding to pedestrians, but one would think that when faced with a multiple-ton vehicle, hedging your bets is just not a great idea. I realize that “look both ways,” as I was taught as a child, no longer works on the congested roads of today. But I would ask that pedestrians please be sensible. Don’t jaywalk. Don’t assume cars will stop. Don’t use your baby in a stroller as a human shield. Verify that drivers can see you before crossing.
A little courtesy both ways could help pedestrians and drivers.
Jill Cozzi
Washington Township, March 2
I’d like to ask this writer what exactly an “unmarked crosswalk” is that people are using, that she doesn’t think they should be using? Other than a few crosswalks in the CBD that have accompanying traffic lights, is she suggesting that pedestrians shouldn’t cross the street at non-traffic light crosswalks? As for looking both ways, that’s easier said than done. Traffic is basically constant, in both directions, from about 6am until about 8pm. Based upon her “rules”, I don’t think I can walk home from the station tonight.
There is no enforcement of j-walking and really not much for auto’s either cars and buses especially running lights and stop sings so it is amazing that more people are not injured. One of the worst areas are on Ridgewood av. between maple and cottage with mothers always crossing between cars.
I agree. I am so tired of pedestrians (particularly with headphones on) simply walking out in front of you. They don’t look either way, they just assume they have the right of way. And many, especially teens, don’t even stop for a light that is against them.
The worst? My car is halfway through a turn and a pedestrian who was no where near the corner when I started, just starts walking in front of my already turning car. Does the definition of “pedestrian” include brain dead?
I avoid the CBD. It is hard to anticipate what the pedestrians will do. They walk out without looking and have been known to change direction while in the crosswalk. One guy switched to a diagonal cross while halfway across. It is like we have tourists in the CBD.
If I have a specific reason to go into the CBD I will go, most times I can do what I need elsewhere.
Declan you completely miss the point………..
No, I don’t. I’m both a regular driver and a pedestrian. I get the sense that many are only drivers and only see it from the driver perspective. In all my years of driving here, I’ve never seen anyone “jump out”. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but I don’t see it. To suggest it occurs as frequently as some here would suggest, that’s simply untrue. When I do walk and cross the road, I do see a lot of drivers who are just as oblivious to their surroundings as the description here of the pedestrians. Bottom line, we will never improve our pedestrian safety situation for as long as we (and almost all of the country) still have this 1950s approach to managing the whole traffic-pedestrian interaction. Roads are many times more congested now than they once were. My recommendation would be to have a lot less crosswalks, but where we do have them, make them traffic-light controlled. Simply making statements along the lines of pedestrians are stupid and somehow drivers are not, is not productive.
Declan you’re still missing it. Perhaps re-read the article/post and mull it over for a bit. But in case you need some hints – – “after the sun goes down”,…”dark clothing”, “blinding….headlights”, “look both ways”, “be sensible”, “don’t assume cars will stop”, “verify that cars can see you”, “courtesy BOTH ways”. And when the writer says “unmarked crosswalk”, she means crossing somewhere other than a crosswalk.
So typical is the young person busy texting, stepping into the crosswalk without looking, expecting th cars to come to a screeching halt. Someday they will become a hood ornament.
Maybe this will clear it up
New Jersey’s New Crosswalk Law – Be Prepared To Stop
On April 1, 2010, New Jersey new crosswalk law went into effect. The law was changed to address the fact that New Jersey has had a disproportionate number of pedestrian injury crashes and fatalities as compared to most states in the U.S.
The biggest change in the law is that now motorists in New Jersey MUST stop for pedestrians in a marked crosswalk. Prior to April 1, drivers only had to yield to pedestrians.
Failure to observe the law may subject you to one or more of the following:
2 Points on your license
$200 Fines (plus court costs)
15 Days Community Service
Insurance Surcharges
A driver of a vehicle must stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk.
Drivers shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
There is an exception for crosswalks, where there are police officers or traffic control signals regulating the movement of traffic and a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided.
The statute also states that “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 impossible for the driver to stop or yield. Nothing contained herein shall relieve a pedestrian from using due care for his safety.”
This means you can’t jump out in front of a car and expect them to stop. The most important pedestrian safety message for New Jersey residents remains: Pedestrian Safety is a Shared Responsibility
The state’s website notes that there is no one cause of crashes involving pedestrians. Pedestrians and motorists must both do their part to keep pedestrians safe.
Pedestrians:
Always cross at corners, within marked crosswalks where available.
If crossing in other locations, yield the right of way to vehicles. Failure to obey the law carries a $54 fine, plus court costs.
Look left, right and left again before crossing. Watch for turning cars.
Always walk facing traffic.
Obey traffic signals, especially “Walk/Don’t Walk.”
Remain alert! Don’t assume that cars are going to stop.
Wear reflective clothing when walking at night.
Stay sober. Walking while impaired greatly increases your chances of being struck.
Motorists:
Stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks. Failure to stop carries a $200 (court costs additional) fine, a 2-point license penalty, 15 days community service, and insurance surcharges.
Watch for pedestrians when turning right on red.
Obey speed limits.
Do not block or park in crosswalks.
Keep your windshield clean for maximum visibility.
Be alert for pedestrian at all times.
This is about the 100th such article we’ve had on this issue and every single time, we end up with the same round of blaming. The only thing I’ve seen done is an occasional undercover cop exercise in ticketing drivers who don’t obey crosswalk laws, and that absurd flag-waving program (is that still being offered?). Nothing changes, and nothing will, until this country as a whole catches up with the rest of the developed world in traffic management.
Declan, pause for a moment please. It seems all the writer, and most posters, are saying is that many pedestrians walk out between cars without looking at all to oncoming traffic. The “burden” falls onto the drivers of these multi-ton vehicles. That’s certainly not the way you or anyone was taught to cross the street. And it’s not just teens. In fact, distracted teens are less of a problem. Its often adults, who just assume that their Right of Way will mean a car will stop. I am not worried about a ticket. I am worried about hitting someone. You’ll see a mother with kids crossing carefully. Just as easily you will see a single adult walking for a coffee at Starbucks and step right into traffic without even turning his head. Also, if your car is in the middle of an intersection and a pedestrian starts to cross, despite seeing your car there, you are required to stop. False sense of security for pedestrians. A perfect example is when you see an out-of-state driver, who doesn’t know the local laws, and he looks with amazement at how or why a pedestrian just walked straight in front of his moving car.
Some of the most dangerous are the crosswalks further east on Ridgewood Ave. Drivers have to stop for pedestrians in cross walks even if they are no in the CBD. I would love a police sting for Irving and Ridgewood Ave as the buses let out from 6-7:30. It is amazing how many drivers even slow but dont stop when there are people waiting to cross at the cross walk. Drivers need to proceed with caution all along Ridgewood Ave and be alert at those cross walks.
Dexy – you’ve never seen someone jump out ? Drive past the theatre one weekend afternoon….
Still boggles my mind how people can scoot across the cross-walks at night in dark clothing,,,,
So for you lurking Rpd types: I interpret the law as a driver that I must stop until pedestrian is out of the crosswalk on the other curb…..or does the pd interpret this to mean once the pedestrian is in the other travel lane…may the driver proceed .?
I think you can get a ticket if they are in the crosswalk at all, even if already past your side. If they are entering the crosswalk, forget it. You are toast. And most pedestrians know this so they don’t hesitate or break their stride. How about courtesy from the pedestrian? If you are pushing a stroller or an elderly person, I get it. Take as long as you need. But running between cars to get your coffee before the line gets too long is called jay-walking. Write a ticket for that too.
Lurk this.
I have to drive thru Ridgewood to get home and I for one have had people “jump out” from between parked cars. I recall 2 times and I beeped my horn. One time the woman turned around and gave me the finger. The other time it was a couple who yelled “B**ch” at me. I only work here – glad I don’ live here!