Are we backwards on pedestrian saftey??

Question

In this article: "Hybrid cars dangerously quiet for pedestrians: US blind group" found on yahoo news at "http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070214/ts_alt_afp/usautohybridpedestriansaccident_070214034245" It talks about pedestrian safety, and it got me thinking. I feel most strongly that vehicles should ALWAYS have the right of way. People who LIVE this way won't get hurt. Ever. Traffic is already congested enough and the pedestrian CAN stop on a dime, whereas vehicles cannot. Certainly, as the article presents, some folks who are blind or elderly will have difficulty dealing with very quiet cars---which further solidifies my point. I'm interested in other people's viewpoints, both for and against.

Answer 1

I've always felt this way, too. If cars have the right of way, people won't assume that cars see them, and there will be less pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
Blind people have more a more acute sense of hearing that people who can see, so I'd like to think that they would be able to hear hybrid cars. Elderly people should stick to cross walks.
I do think pedestrians should have the right of way at crosswalks...people turning right should wait for the peds to cross.
Other than that, I agree with you.

Answer 2

I think this is the worst complaint I've ever heard the oil companies come up with.

Its a disgrace, using the Blind to push fossil fuels.

Raised walkways, or Raised Roads would help pedestrian safety, but come on.....Blind people really should not be walking around with out any type of assistance....and for everyone else...LOOK BOTH WAYS.

Answer 3

The government should force everyone to have V8 motors with Cherry bomb mufflers on them. It would save lives.

Answer 4

I don't buy the "You didn't get out of the way fast enough" argument. Every one should slow down and be respectful of each other.