Walking

[bdog]

I live in an area with maybe 250,000 people. Not a huge city but not a small town either.

In 2014 our area had 10 pedestrians killed from being hit by cars. So far this year as in the past 6 days we have had 3 pedestrians killed in 3 seperate incidents. Very tragic.

It seems to me like a huge number of accidents of this type to be happening relative to the population. I don't walk a lot but I wonder what could be done to be help reduce this.

I haven't studied every case in detail but it seems in a lot of them there are no charges filed and it is just a horrible accident. In one of the recent ones a 13 yr old girl was walking her dog along a rural road. A pickup hit her. The road was fairly narrow and the driver was focused on another oncoming vehicle and didn't see the girl.

 

[pmsmechanic]

All it would take is for the walker to wear a safety vest. I just about ran over the neighbour girl going for a run at night. It was too close for comfort.

 

[Bird]

Yep, even in town where we live there's asphalt streets, 20' wide, no curbs, no markings, no sidewalks, no street lights, and we have an incredible number of people just out for a walk, walking dogs, both kids and adults on bikes, even kids on skateboards at all hours. I only know of ONE man who rides his bike to work and has the flashing lights on his bike and wears a reflective vest. So I can only assume that everyone in the neighborhood knows, as I do, to be very careful, especially early and late in the day when low, or no, light conditions exist.

In Texas there used to be no right turn on red allowed anywhere, anytime. And when such became legal, the number of vehicle/pedestrian accidents increased greatly.

 

[k0ua]

One of our access roads on the way to town, is very curvy, no sidewalks, narrow and heavily tree lined. We often have "walkers" and runners on the side of the road, often at night.. It is really interesting. I would not walk on that road for all the tea in China. But many seem to be oblivious to danger. I really don't understand it. And these are not always children, but most often fully grown (in body if not mind) adults. Perhaps this is just natures way of cleaning up the gene pool? I really don't "get" it.

 

[DHD]

I live in a rural area and I walk 2 miles a couple times each week along the side of a road in which the speed limit is 35 mph but most cars are going at least 45 mph.
I walk facing traffic and wear either fluorescent orange or fluorescent green. I carry no cell phone (distraction) nor do I wear ear pods to listen to music.
It's a hilly area and I am able to hear vehicles approaching in front or behind me before I can actually see them. When a vehicle approaches in front of me I get off the pavement and stop walking, until the vehicle passes. Currently we have snow banks, so I'm often on top of, or in the snow bank while the vehicle passes.
I consider the road ways are designed and built for vehicles, so as a person walking along the side of the road, it is up to me to ensure my own safety.
Too often I see folks walking side by side along the side of the road, and not yielding to traffic, even on a hill, where an approaching vehicle has to swing out in the other lane so as not to hit the unyielding pedestrians but yet being in the wrong lane while approaching the top of a hill.
Lately a lot of attention has been directed at driver distractions and I agree it is a big problem, but pedestrian distractions is also a huge problem (cell phones, texting and ear pods). Many states are trying to enforce laws to curb distracted driver issues. What about the pedestrian distractions and their responsibilities, when they are around vehicle traffic ?

 

[Bird]

I've heard or read that there's a limit to human intelligence, but no limit to stupidity.:laughing: Yep, I've actually seen joggers running down the CENTER of streets wearing ear buds in the hours of darkness or dim lights.

 

[oosik]

Where I live the county road has very narrow or non-exsistant shoulders. Every time I drive into town there are walkers or folks riding bicycles. I'm very surprised that there are not more accidents. However, in the 32 years I've been out here I know of not a single accident. Almost 100% of the walkers or bikers are wearing brightly colored reflective clothing or vests. I have always had these folks "give way" to me in my vehicle. I think a lot of the accidents are caused by folks that think they own the road and do not give way. It is a foolish position to take - seldom does a person stand a chance against an oncoming auto.

 

[kevin37b]

It is usually dark when I go to work . Depending on where we are it is common to cross a couple narrow 2 lane bridges over the interstate . Never fails , run up on a walker or biker in black clothes, no colors of any sort with back to you and ears plugged in . Oblivious to the world with people driving , texting and doing their hair . Probably the same people you meet on foggy mornings in a gray car with no lights on . I do not know how these people make it through the day . Stupid is spreading like the plague ?

 

[deerefan]

I live in a rural area and I walk 2 miles a couple times each week along the side of a road in which the speed limit is 35 mph but most cars are going at least 45 mph.
I walk facing traffic and wear either fluorescent orange or fluorescent green. I carry no cell phone (distraction) nor do I wear ear pods to listen to music.
It's a hilly area and I am able to hear vehicles approaching in front or behind me before I can actually see them. When a vehicle approaches in front of me I get off the pavement and stop walking, until the vehicle passes. Currently we have snow banks, so I'm often on top of, or in the snow bank while the vehicle passes.
I consider the road ways are designed and built for vehicles, so as a person walking along the side of the road, it is up to me to ensure my own safety.
Too often I see folks walking side by side along the side of the road, and not yielding to traffic, even on a hill, where an approaching vehicle has to swing out in the other lane so as not to hit the unyielding pedestrians but yet being in the wrong lane while approaching the top of a hill.
Lately a lot of attention has been directed at driver distractions and I agree it is a big problem, but pedestrian distractions is also a huge problem (cell phones, texting and ear pods). Many states are trying to enforce laws to curb distracted driver issues. What about the pedestrian distractions and their responsibilities, when they are around vehicle traffic ?

Bingo- driving has enough distractions, adding a distracted pedestrian to the mix is a recipe for an accident.

 

[Walkin Horse]

I have noticed a lot of joggers and bikers love to go out about rush hour time when the most possible vehicles are on the road. Closer to where I live they stage bike races on the weekend. The bikers have absolutely no respect for vehicle traffic. They ride the middle of the lane which makes passing almost impossible. They will make left turns in front of you with no motion of a signal. I like to ride my horse on the road once in awhile. I will go out on Sunday morning. Ride up to the hard surface rd and hit a subdivision that's not crowded. I love to hear the shoes in a nice gait.