file photo by Boyd Loving
By Michael Symons February 5, 2017 7:01 PM
TRENTON — More than 500 pedestrians have been killed in New Jersey since 2014, the most in any three-year stretch since the early 1990s. A new legislative proposal seeks to remedy that by shifting more of the responsibility onto them, rather than drivers.
Bill A4449, called the Driver and Pedestrian Mutual Responsibility Act, says pedestrians could only cross at designated crosswalks, ends a requirement that drivers stop and stay stopped for people who are crossing a street and doesn’t automatically blame drivers if someone is hit in a crosswalk.
Assemblyman Chris Brown, R-Atlantic, said the purpose of the legislation “is to try to bring common sense back to the Statehouse.”
“Throughout the summer and even into the winter months, there are numerous complaints and problems with pedestrians just stepping off the curb into traffic,” Brown said.
“What we have done is try to codify common sense and make sure that people use the good brain that God gave them before they cross the street,” he said. “And you would think you wouldn’t necessarily need to put some of these common sense items into writing, but unfortunately you do.”
Read More: Why NJ lawmakers want to get rid of the stop-for-pedestrians law | https://nj1015.com/why-nj-lawmakers-want-to-get-rid-of-the-stop-for-pedestrians-law/?trackback=tsmclip
I found it hard to believe but as a driver eventually was forced to accept that people seemed to think the law gave them superpowers and if they were in or near a crosswalk nothing could harm them. They don’t even look up. That includes the jaywalkers. Death wish or teen-like feelings of immortality?
Common sense. What a concept!
Difficult issue. Drivers need to be held accountable. Watering down the crosswalk rule in favor of drivers could wind up eliminating all accountability, leaving pedestrians with no real protection.
Also the 25mph speed limit law ironically results in more pedestrians being hit since BOTH the driver and the pedestrian perceive the slower speed as inherently safe (don’t perceive imminent danger) and are less alert.
Wrong wrong wrong 231….the numbers don’t lie. Are you kidding me? Accountability? READ THE NUMBERS
Pedestrians should take care when crossing the street as if their life depends on it because it does. What was wrong with look both ways before you cross?
In Europe, most countries require drivers to stop ONLY for pedestrians who are crossing in designated/distinctively marked crosswalks, not for those crossing in any in any crosswalk.
@7:34, perhaps but I would not say a town such as ridgewood for example (except CBD) has tons of crosswalks. We should be safe crossing in any of those.