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Stupid Pedestrians

April 12, 2011 by B. Daniel Blatt

Today, when returning home from running a quick errand, I had to brake my car when, not twenty yards in front of me (if that), a woman, after looking both ways, starting crossing the street (and not at an intersection).  It seemed she was doing the exact opposite of what we teach kids.  If you see a car, we tell them, wait to cross.  This woman acted as if her mere gesture of looking indicated that cars should stop for her.

At least she looked.

Several months ago, when driving in my neighborhood, I turned onto my street to see a woman crossing a few yards before the next intersection.  I calculated that by the time I reached the place where she was crossing, she would be safely across.  Yet, all of a sudden, without looking up, she pulled out her cellphone and started texting — in the middle of the street.  Her pace slowed.  I had to brake to avoid hitting her.

Another time, a woman, again in the middle of the street (and not at an intersection where she would have had the right of way), emerged from behind a van while walking her dog and looking at her phone.  So oblivious was she to the street, she didn’t give any sign of noticing when I slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting her.

Given that the van was much higher than she was tall, there was no way a driver could have seen her until she was in the middle of the street.  At least with the other two women, I had been able to see them before they crossed into the street.

Today’s experience just got me wondering (and not for the first time):  in a city like LA with very aggressive drivers, why do some pedestrians act as if crossing the street were no different from taking a stroll in their own back yards?

Filed Under: LA Stories

Comments

  1. Blair Ivey says

    April 12, 2011 at 6:20 pm - April 12, 2011

    In Portland, OR, a city where pedestrians and cyclists are taught that they have the right-of-way no matter what, I see what you’re describing a lot. I routinely see people yakking on their phones crossing the street without even looking. As in, at all. As pedestrians they have the legal right-of-way, but I wouldn’t bet my life on it.

  2. Tim says

    April 12, 2011 at 6:51 pm - April 12, 2011

    its an aspect of of human nature to downgrade risk with each repeat of a dangerous action that prompts no injury.

  3. B. Daniel Blatt says

    April 12, 2011 at 7:34 pm - April 12, 2011

    Well said, Tim. Very well said.

  4. Ken Mueller says

    April 12, 2011 at 7:40 pm - April 12, 2011

    That is what I keep telling my surgical and anesthesiological friends, Tim. Next time I will use your very good terminology.

  5. Sebastian Shaw says

    April 12, 2011 at 7:43 pm - April 12, 2011

    I’ve seen people texting while they are driving; I won’t even answer my cell phone if I’m driving. It has to wait for me to park my car.

  6. Ken Thomas says

    April 12, 2011 at 8:00 pm - April 12, 2011

    While I agree there are ridiculous pedestrians out there, this is simply a conflict about use of resources. The woman saw you and presumably saw that you saw her. After that, arguably, the road was hers — political conflict, you lost.

  7. B. Daniel Blatt says

    April 12, 2011 at 8:14 pm - April 12, 2011

    Witty analysis, Ken. 🙂

  8. Randy says

    April 12, 2011 at 8:32 pm - April 12, 2011

    It is like that here in Orlando too. But I don’t think it is just jay-walkers. People don’t watch or don’t care to look where they are going … at all. It’s only gotten worse as time goes on. I detest going to the grocery store after work because its a health risk with all the flying buggies being pushed by frantic parents on cell phones making a grocery run on the way home for dinner.

  9. SoCalRobert says

    April 12, 2011 at 8:35 pm - April 12, 2011

    I’ve always wanted to ask these people just what makes them think I’m paying any more attention than they are.

    Some years ago when I lived in Stillwater, OK, there was a ped. crossing across a major road and people were routinely hit by cars. It seems that the pedestrians, who have the ROW, simply walk into traffic with nary a glance. I guess they think a 3000 pound car can be stopped instantly. Watching these people never ceased to amaze me.

  10. B. Daniel Blatt says

    April 12, 2011 at 8:46 pm - April 12, 2011

    oh, and, Ken, she must also have assumed I was a decent fellow who wouldn’t hit here.

  11. Karl says

    April 12, 2011 at 8:47 pm - April 12, 2011

    “In sweet and loving memory
    Of Lester Ewing Drakes,
    Who had a deep, abiding faith,
    In other people’s brakes.”

    I’ve often thought of getting my car horn programmed to sound like screeching brakes.

  12. The Griper says

    April 12, 2011 at 9:26 pm - April 12, 2011

    it all comes down to common sense and given the body of a car and the body of a person when one comes into contact with the other which body will come out the loser. but there are times that laws do not abide by common sense and this is one of those times.

  13. RJLigier says

    April 13, 2011 at 3:49 am - April 13, 2011

    I’ve noticed many stupid pedestrians recently. Unfortunately, the same inattentive behavior translates to lack of attention at the wheel and public paths shared with bicycles. What always amuses me is their arrogant behavior as you try to avoid their stupidity. What are you going to do……….stupid humans? Is there a Darwinian solution?

  14. Heliotrope says

    April 13, 2011 at 10:05 am - April 13, 2011

    My pet peeve is the jaywalker who causes you to stop and then walks an oblique angle and keeps you from moving forward until he has finished his “short cut.”

    Some jaywalkers are arrogant. Others are in a trance. Some are jittery. A few are taking a regular path. No matter what, the jaywalker is challenging the law of gross tonnage, but he has the courts and the societal code on his side.

    Because someone is carrying the garbage of jaywalking does not mean that we drivers have to take on some of it and carry it with us. I stop and even smile if the jaywalker looks my way. By smiling, I am telling him “thanks” for keeping me alert and how glad I am that I did not crush any of his bones. Keeping my irritation in check makes my day go better.

  15. Jeff S says

    April 13, 2011 at 1:02 pm - April 13, 2011

    I’ve often thought of getting my car horn programmed to sound like screeching brakes.

    Comment by Karl — April 12, 2011 @ 8:47 pm – April 12, 2011

    Or you might change it to the sound of gunfire and see if that makes a difference.

  16. Tim in MT says

    April 13, 2011 at 2:59 pm - April 13, 2011

    All the examples you provide include females. Coincidence?

  17. anona says

    April 15, 2011 at 4:19 pm - April 15, 2011

    Worst of the bunch are the ones that walk between streetlights at night dressed entirely in black; they’re almost impossible to spot. Was almost on a jury case involving a pedestrian; idiot waked out from between two vans, in the middle of the block,at night. Needless to say he got flattened; and alleged it was the drivers’ fault he got hit. We may have the right-of-way law backward; it’s a lot easier to stop a 150# body than a 3500# car,

  18. bethesdabrat says

    April 18, 2011 at 3:35 pm - April 18, 2011

    It’s Darwinism at work. Those who are too stupid to live, are simply killed.

  19. Felicia says

    April 20, 2011 at 2:06 pm - April 20, 2011

    Ok, all of these stories are about women…just what are you trying to say? Just kidding. You’re totally right. I have had the same problem as well. What unnerves me is when you’re trying to find a parking spot, and people are walking right in the middle of the lane. They turn around and see you coming, but they just keep walking, blocking your way, and they do it so slowly, just daring you to do something about it. So rude.

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