It's amazing how few people refuse to obey these signs, which are posted all around the mall parking lot. Whether a crosswalk is posted or not, state law mandates that motorists stop to allow pedestrians to cross safely to the other side--regardless of whether or not the crosswalk is at a corner or middle of the block. Usually, cars fly by with no regard to speed limit or pedestrians. That's why I was shocked when, after deboarding the bus near my home one afternoon and waiting to cross at the midstreet crosswalk, someone actually obeyed the pedestrian sign and stopped to allow myself and another passenger across. Guess miracles do occasionally happen!
5 comments:
WOW! I'd have been as shocked as you were. There's a city near us that has actually run crosswalk stings and given out bunches of tickets to people who fly through without heed for people in the crosswalk.
Wow!
And, I'm so glad I don't live in a big city. lol We have crosswalks on campus but that's about it. Most folks are pretty good at stopping at them. I've only almost been nailed three or four times. hehehe
Lynn - They have done a few crosswalk stings here, too, but they never seem to be at the worst intersections (IMO). More than a few people have also been surprised to receive tickets in the mail for speeding through school zones - apparently they don't realize that the lowly crossing guard has authority to turn them in. Hehe...
Jana - Wow, only three or four times? You ARE lucky! I can't even begin to tally the number of times I've nearly been hit by people not stopping or turning the corner right on my heels (um yeah...they're not supposed to go until the ped has safely crossed out of their lane).
We just had a bad incident in the metro area involving a driver disregarding a crossing guard and a crosswalk. While crossing the street in front of his elementary school (with the help of a crossing guard), a 7-year-old boy was killed by a woman who ignored the crossing guard. Ironically, she was taking her daughter to a different school.
I haven't heard yet if they've determined exactly how it happened; the driver has been extremely distraught and isn't talking to the press. The little boy's grandmother has said she doesn't want the driver to be jailed, she'd rather see her sentenced to community service.
Very sad.
Oh, Lynn, that's awful - for both families. Very sad indeed!
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