Why do pedestrians always assume that they have the right of way? Didn't their parents teach them about looking both ways. So many Americans think that they can just walk out in the middle of the street, stop traffic.
2007-02-05 05:00:31 · 18 answers · asked by Cheryl 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
It's like hurding cattle, trying to drive down the street
2007-02-05 05:01:34 · update #1
People are so ignorant. They think that because they have a driving license they are lawyers.
The first thing you learn at law school is that there's no ABSOLUTE rights. Pedestrian have right of way but that right is not absolute, pedestrians are supposed to use this right in a responsible manner, and if they miss-use it they are as accountable as any bad driver.
Is false that the driver is always guilty if a pedestrian is hit. The situation is that most of the time drivers are careless and that's why the are found guilty, but if a pedestrian is found to have been reckless the driver is found not guilty.
The law states that the driver must give right of way to the pedestrian, and some people confuse this obligation of the driver with and absolute right for the pedrestian. That's a total mistake; just because the driver is bound to do something, it doesn't mean the pedestrian have an absolute right. The driver is bound to respect the law and stop but the pedestrian is also bound to respect the law and not to put his life and others in danger.
2007-02-05 15:18:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Many people ignore the laws. People "assume" that pedestrians have "always" the right of way, but that's not true; it's just ignorance and dumb guess.
One thing is to have a "courtesy right of way" but an "absolute right of way" is another thing. And there's no law granting such a thing as an "absolute right of way" for pedestrians.
Pedestrian DO NOT have the right of way "ALWAYS", that's why there are laws against "jaywalking".
"Almost all urban areas in the United States and Canada require pedestrians to cross at crosswalks or intersections and to obey pedestrian traffic signal. Jaywalking is considered an infraction or a misdemeanor in some locations."
And those who do "jaywalking" are wrong to think that the driver will stop always. Yes is the law that a driver must stop to avoid to injure a pedestrian but the driver can't stop if he doesn't see them on time. They don't want to run over them, but when you mix a bad driver and a reckless pedestrian you get a vehicular manslaughter.
The law also says that if the pedestrian is reckless or negligence and cause his own death or any kind of injury, the driver is not responsible (assuming the driver was driving by the book and with common sense).
2007-02-05 06:17:48 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's not just an American thing. When I visited Salzburg, Austria, pedestrians meandered or charged into the street into oncoming traffic all the time, without a glance around them.
You should always give pedestrians the right of way, even if they are jaywalking because it's better than going to jail for vehicular homicide or whatever they call it. But honk the horn like crazy at them!
2007-02-05 05:32:17 · answer #3 · answered by §Sally§ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to live near a busy shooping mall with plenty of pedestrian crosswalks, but most people choose to walk out inot the middle of traffic. One of my scariest experiences happened on my way home from work. I was in the middle lane, and there were a few cars in the left lane waiting for a turn signal. I started to pass a larger size delivery truck when all of a sudden I see the front edge of a baby stroller pop out in front of the truck. I barely missed hitting the kid. The mother had the nerve to look at me as though I did something wrong!
2007-02-05 05:11:44 · answer #4 · answered by mzflyfemme 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I get what your saying, but the law here in Michigan does give pedestrians the right away. A few years back, I was driving down a semi busy street and a girl was riding her bike across traffic and ran into my car, yet I got a ticket!!
2007-02-05 05:09:04 · answer #5 · answered by Michelle Lynn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Peds are 50 % cause of accidents so I hear. I hate to go by our local High school. kids there walk right out in front of you and if you try to get past them they give you the evil eye. Some kids in our city walk as slowly as they can across the street infront of you, its a pain in the butt!!
2007-02-05 05:09:14 · answer #6 · answered by Grandma of six 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand wat you mean.
Your frustration voices an opinion one would make whilst driving in owned car and all of a sudden unexpectedly a pedestrian jay walks out of nowhere.
Pedestrians do have the right of way, but not when jay walking.
Because even though we all still do it, It is still against the law.
2007-02-05 05:11:02 · answer #7 · answered by Sundance 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because Pedestrianas do have the right away. They are not allowed to jay walk. They only do that cause they are no cops to give them a ticket. But you need to get your local Street Rules to learn them. But Yes Pedestrians ALWAYS do have the right of way. Welcome to America.
2007-02-05 09:15:36 · answer #8 · answered by jrealitytv 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Pedestrians Do Have The Right Of Way .. the law states it.
If you hit a pedestrian, no matter how it happened, it is your fault.
The person could jump right out in front of your car, and it's your fault.
2007-02-05 05:22:21 · answer #9 · answered by Aunt Henny Penny 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Read the DMV hand book. Pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way.
2007-02-05 05:09:10 · answer #10 · answered by aphotic nostrum 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋