PDJetta
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2003
- Location
- Northern Virginia
- TDI
- '04 Jetta GLS TDI Pumpe Duce Platinum Grey w/ Leather
I know there is a lot of anomosity between cyclistes and motorists. I was not trying to bring this to light, or solicit such comments in my original post. I equally post about drivers who are seeking the Darwin award, as well.
Power Hound made a very important point: "Like, how to be civil to other people even if they don't deserve it". This is important. I know I could not live with myself if I hurt or killed someone, due to their mistake or negligence, if I could have done something different to prevent the accident, such as yield if a cyclist runs a red light, or swerve around the cyclist. And being able to do something different to prevent an accident, and choosing not to, just to "teach them a lesson" is just imoral and deplorable.
This is what the Virginia Code states about crosswalks (most states use similar language):
§ 46.2-924. Drivers to stop for pedestrians; installation of certain signs; penalty.
A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:
1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;
2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block;
3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, at intersections or crosswalks where the movement of traffic is being regulated by law-enforcement officers or traffic control devices, the driver shall yield according to the direction of the law-enforcement officer or device.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.
The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.
Pedestrians crossing highways at intersections shall at all times have the right-of-way over vehicles making turns into the highways being crossed by the pedestrians.
Both the motorist and the pedestrian have a responsibility (I assume the "Dismount before crossing" sign is to enable the cyclists to pecome "pedestrians"). The pedestrian can not blatently step out in front of traffic when a car is too close for a driver, traveling at the posted speed limit, to stop. In this case, the pedestrian is at fault (if this can be proved).
But the motorist must yield if the pedestrian is in the crosswalk, and had entered at a safe time to do so. Lets say the pedestrian enters the crosswalk about 10 seconds before a motorists arrives, but trips and has trouble getting up. Upon seeing the pedestrian, the motorist must yield, If not, the motorist is at fault.
In my case, I had no time to yield, even if I wanted to. In addition, the cyclist blatently ignored a "STOP" and "Dismount Before Crossing" signs and failed on this account "No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic".
I just would like to avoid this situation, because I would hate to have someone get hurt and who knows, the way the legal system is, where I could be wrongly found at fault. That is a horrible crosswalk location.
--Nate
Power Hound made a very important point: "Like, how to be civil to other people even if they don't deserve it". This is important. I know I could not live with myself if I hurt or killed someone, due to their mistake or negligence, if I could have done something different to prevent the accident, such as yield if a cyclist runs a red light, or swerve around the cyclist. And being able to do something different to prevent an accident, and choosing not to, just to "teach them a lesson" is just imoral and deplorable.
This is what the Virginia Code states about crosswalks (most states use similar language):
§ 46.2-924. Drivers to stop for pedestrians; installation of certain signs; penalty.
A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:
1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;
2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block;
3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, at intersections or crosswalks where the movement of traffic is being regulated by law-enforcement officers or traffic control devices, the driver shall yield according to the direction of the law-enforcement officer or device.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.
The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.
Pedestrians crossing highways at intersections shall at all times have the right-of-way over vehicles making turns into the highways being crossed by the pedestrians.
Both the motorist and the pedestrian have a responsibility (I assume the "Dismount before crossing" sign is to enable the cyclists to pecome "pedestrians"). The pedestrian can not blatently step out in front of traffic when a car is too close for a driver, traveling at the posted speed limit, to stop. In this case, the pedestrian is at fault (if this can be proved).
But the motorist must yield if the pedestrian is in the crosswalk, and had entered at a safe time to do so. Lets say the pedestrian enters the crosswalk about 10 seconds before a motorists arrives, but trips and has trouble getting up. Upon seeing the pedestrian, the motorist must yield, If not, the motorist is at fault.
In my case, I had no time to yield, even if I wanted to. In addition, the cyclist blatently ignored a "STOP" and "Dismount Before Crossing" signs and failed on this account "No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic".
I just would like to avoid this situation, because I would hate to have someone get hurt and who knows, the way the legal system is, where I could be wrongly found at fault. That is a horrible crosswalk location.
--Nate
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