Distracted walking
I have dumb drivers on the brain this week. Perhaps because my vehicle was in the shop for two weeks and my insurance company gave me a very nice but extremely large SUV to negotiate around the city and I became the target for the impatience of many of my fellow motorists.
But there are a lot of problems with pedestrians too! It continues to astound me that so many do not understand the concept of an advanced green to allow traffic to turn left. They continue to wander out into the street, baffled, like a squirrel panicking over where to bury a nut. They hold up traffic and act as if it’s the drivers trying to squeeze into that brief left turn opportunity who are doing the wrong thing. After all, pedestrians have the right of way, even when they’re wrong.
This week police issued a warning to walkers to stay off the headphones or at least keep the music down low enough so they can still hear what’s going on around them. This comes after a young woman was struck by a streetcar because she had an iPod on and didn’t see what was coming.
I’ve never been on the music-while-walking bandwagon except when I’m on a treadmill. Generally, there’s no traffic to worry about there! I don’t get why so many people want to check out of what’s going on around them, but it looks like I’m in the minority. I see bike riders wearing headphones and car drivers as well.
Maybe I just like people watching and hearing birds…and sirens… not to mention being aware of any senses that tell me there’s something strange afoot. I know I’m a worse driver when I’m on a cellphone. I can admit it! It can’t be any different when someone is singing in my ear while I walk.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I totally agree. Pedestrians are totally oblivious as to what is going on around them.
I’m not much of a walker, but I would certainly rather jay walk than have to rely on a driver to stop on a red or at a crosswalk.
July 5th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Hear! Hear! Lisa, I hope that the police force do a blitz on pedestrians…….they make up and follow their own rules! As if there isnt enough to watch while driving in this city! I have seen that headlight stare many many times. Im not a horn blower, but boy oh boy…….. While on the topic of not following the rules of the road………ahem or the sidewalk or whatever, I have a beef with cyclists as well! Yes they also wear their headphones, and sometimes they behave as if they are a vehicle in the middle of a lane and other times they think they are pedestrians………whichever is more convenient and quicker for them! geesh! Try making a right hand turn when you have a bike SPEEDING along the inside of you. They seem to just appear from nowhere! Time for some education for both pedestrians AND bikes! Be aware of your surroundings!!!!!!!!!!! Visually, AND auditory!
I love your blog by the way! I hope you had a great vacation!
July 8th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
You forgot to mention the people who wear headphones while they drive.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:36 am
Good point Neil - that can’t be safe either.