I use the crosswalks.I look once, twice, three times and then look again. I keep looking as I cross the road. Most importantly I DO NOT trust the drivers to follow the rules of the road and yield to pedestrians…
I’ve probably walked hundreds of miles over the years just crossing streets and I’ve never been hit.
Defensive walking and self-responsibility keeps you alive and in one piece. Sometimes that involves waiting, even if it is not “practical” – better to be late and alive than on-time and dead.
.
This is not to excuse the poor driving by some – it acknowledges it (or at least the potential for dangerous drivers).
the biggest mistake is to look to the law or the police or the government to “fix” bad drivers.
The responsibility is on the pedestrian to keep himself safe. No matter how “in the right” you are, you will ALWAYS lose an “argument” with a motor vehicle.
This pedestrian vs. motorist argument is tiresome. Especially in a place like Ridgewood, most of us are both. This is not about two mutually exclusive factions. This is not NYC!
Also – the post this reader is making is redundant. Yes – in a contest between a multi-thousand pound chunk of steel and a human, the steel will always win! I am not aware of anyone who does not get that – and willfully steps in front of a car assuming that it will stop.
At the same time, most drivers are not out to run some pedestrian over or intentionally not pay attention. Especially in the dark, it is easy to miss a pedestrian, all the most so when there are oncoming headlights in your eyes (coming up the slope on Godwin) or just random vehicular traffic (Franklin from the underpass through Maple).
The focus should be on better traffic designs.
For instance, pedestrian operated traffic lights at some of the more accident prone locations. This seems to be a must in and around downtown. I fail to see how this would break the bank for the Village. It is also a safer and less bothersome approach than the current pedestrian crosswalks.
Then we need bright – and I mean VERY bright – lighting of pedestrian crosswalks in downtown. It is easy to miss a pedestrian in the dark with oncoming traffic. We cannot expect all pedestrians to wear reflective clothing. So lets make them more visible.
This pedestrian vs. motorist argument is tiresome
Really?
Sounds like someone so used to not taking personal responsibility they don’t even realize when this attitude puts their life in physical danger.
All of the “technology” and supports are useless… what about those orange flags… they were hailed as a cure… now all I see are dirty empty plastic eyesores (boxes) nailed to telephone poles at crosswalks.
At the end of the day it is up to the pedestrian to keep himself safe, but you can try to “fix” this via laws and crutches, but you will ultimately fail.
I will agree with the OP, however… the drivers are also at fault (and no one said they are deliberately targeting pedestrians – get off the ledge there) … unfortunately for the pedestrians the drivers will fell bad after an accident, but the pedestrian will just “feel” dead…
We cannot expect all pedestrians to wear bright clothing… however those who want to live will voluntarily wear it if they venture into a dangerous situation… just look to cyclists… they make themselves visible.
.
Life is risks… It is up to the individual to assess how much risk they wish to take and take as many precautions as they see fit.