I was learned when in the 70s (yup I'm a boomer) as I took driver's ed that pedestrians and Bicyclists have the right-of-way, use turn signals to signal your turn (and to make sure they've turned themselves off), drive defensively, etc.
Of course I was also taught common sense at an earlier age, like, crossing in the crosswalk, ride a bicycle to the side of the road, don't play in the street, and don't run out into traffic...
These teachings and lessons do not seem to be taught to the majority nowdays.
Common sense is on the decline. If one doesn’t wish to allow themselves to be hit by a car in a common mutual use environment, simply don’t get in front of one. Eye contact matters. On the other hand, the left is currently enthralled with an agenda that embraces global population reduction. Depending on what’s more important to individuals, press-on..
Drivers routinely drive through walk signals in crosswalks where I live and the police do not want to hear about these violations. Pedestrian safety is not much of a concern.
The ONLY thing going on here is irresponsible driving. When you first learn how to drive you learn two words that govern one's driving mindset overall: drive defensively. To the drivers who hit a pedestrian and then leave the scene of the accident, ask yourself why they value human life so little as to be so heartless NOT to render first aid. Then ask yourself whether or not the vehicle (let's use Lloyd's favorite bane, the modern truck) that said person was driving would've driven itself into the pedestrian. [Spoiler alert: it would not.]
This is no different than the endless brouhaha over gun control. No gun that's loaded and cocked will fire unless someone picks that gun up and pulls the trigger (I'm looking at you, Alec Baldwin—ya murderer!) Which means the *entire* onus is on the operator of the gun as to how safe or dangerous it is, the same as the operator of the vehicle who's driving distracted, offensively, or irresponsibly in urban settings.
If the vast majority of people can drive safely and responsibly, why blame them for something they're not doing? Likewise, if certain bad actors fail to follow traffic safety rules, why aren't they suffering appropriate punishment? You can have bad design and STILL be safe!
"If the vast majority of people can drive safely and responsibly, why blame them for something they're not doing" They aren't. Speeding is common. It's just some people drive dangerously AND end up hitting someone, while other drivers are lucky enough not to do that. If you only start punishment when someone is killed or injured, you aren't going to be preventing anything.
"If the vast majority of people can drive safely and responsibly, why blame them for something they're not doing" They aren't.
Back up that statement with some data - like the total number of drivers / number of driver-responsible accidents. Now do that over some amount of time (say 10 years to get rid of the Pandemic anomaly)
Let us know what you find out.
"while other drivers are lucky enough"
So Life is just the roll of the dice and skill has nothing to do with it?
"So Life is just the roll of the dice and skill has nothing to do with it?" That's a false dichotomy. Are you being intentionally obtuse? People can drive terribly and get "good dice rolls" and avoid causing a crash, although they more they do it the more likely they are to cause one.
I was learned when in the 70s (yup I'm a boomer) as I took driver's ed that pedestrians and Bicyclists have the right-of-way, use turn signals to signal your turn (and to make sure they've turned themselves off), drive defensively, etc.
Of course I was also taught common sense at an earlier age, like, crossing in the crosswalk, ride a bicycle to the side of the road, don't play in the street, and don't run out into traffic...
These teachings and lessons do not seem to be taught to the majority nowdays.
Common sense is on the decline. If one doesn’t wish to allow themselves to be hit by a car in a common mutual use environment, simply don’t get in front of one. Eye contact matters. On the other hand, the left is currently enthralled with an agenda that embraces global population reduction. Depending on what’s more important to individuals, press-on..
The new book cover looks gorgeous! Congratulations.
Drivers routinely drive through walk signals in crosswalks where I live and the police do not want to hear about these violations. Pedestrian safety is not much of a concern.
Great write up! Drivers are just out of control now and need to be “calibrated” w ped safe infrastructure (only real solution):
Drivers are terrorists nowadays - overt lawbreakers who do whatever they want; speeding, crashing, lying about “what happened”, endangering others:
Cars over 70mph in 40mph Residential Area Near Metra Station, Park, & Two Major Regional Trail Systems
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMfNAGP-iqfjctZ2JAq2MQ4X3Gqch2tG3
Let's get real here.
The ONLY thing going on here is irresponsible driving. When you first learn how to drive you learn two words that govern one's driving mindset overall: drive defensively. To the drivers who hit a pedestrian and then leave the scene of the accident, ask yourself why they value human life so little as to be so heartless NOT to render first aid. Then ask yourself whether or not the vehicle (let's use Lloyd's favorite bane, the modern truck) that said person was driving would've driven itself into the pedestrian. [Spoiler alert: it would not.]
This is no different than the endless brouhaha over gun control. No gun that's loaded and cocked will fire unless someone picks that gun up and pulls the trigger (I'm looking at you, Alec Baldwin—ya murderer!) Which means the *entire* onus is on the operator of the gun as to how safe or dangerous it is, the same as the operator of the vehicle who's driving distracted, offensively, or irresponsibly in urban settings.
If the vast majority of people can drive safely and responsibly, why blame them for something they're not doing? Likewise, if certain bad actors fail to follow traffic safety rules, why aren't they suffering appropriate punishment? You can have bad design and STILL be safe!
"If the vast majority of people can drive safely and responsibly, why blame them for something they're not doing" They aren't. Speeding is common. It's just some people drive dangerously AND end up hitting someone, while other drivers are lucky enough not to do that. If you only start punishment when someone is killed or injured, you aren't going to be preventing anything.
"If the vast majority of people can drive safely and responsibly, why blame them for something they're not doing" They aren't.
Back up that statement with some data - like the total number of drivers / number of driver-responsible accidents. Now do that over some amount of time (say 10 years to get rid of the Pandemic anomaly)
Let us know what you find out.
"while other drivers are lucky enough"
So Life is just the roll of the dice and skill has nothing to do with it?
As I said, speeding is one example: https://www.wavy.com/news/national/survey-finds-majority-of-drivers-freely-admit-to-speeding/
"So Life is just the roll of the dice and skill has nothing to do with it?" That's a false dichotomy. Are you being intentionally obtuse? People can drive terribly and get "good dice rolls" and avoid causing a crash, although they more they do it the more likely they are to cause one.
"and the now static and likely soon-to-disappear Treehugger, so before they are gone, I am going to republish some of the posts here."
Save off ALL those pages, Lloyd! I may not have agreed with them all but it was pleasurable to read - and started the conversations. DO IT, DO IT NOW!