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Driving today on Morrisville Parkway, a runner crossed at the ATC crosswalk and did not bother looking either way and did not break his cadence. I did not have to slam on my brakes, and I probably would not have hit him, but I did have to brake quickly to avoid a possibly very uncomfortable moment. I was going the speed limit which is 45 mph and did not see him until he was already crossing since he did not pause.
I've seen bicyclists and runners cross without breaking stride or speed without obviously turning their heads, but usually I've been far enough not to really think it's an issue, but today I was really shocked. I guess they are depending on peripheral vision, but I run on the trail, and I always stop and look both ways before crossing.
Short of stopping at the crosswalk in the road and looking both ways, I don't know what else I could do to avoid a situation like that.
I don't want to come across as insensitive, but it makes me wonder if one were to hit somebody on the crosswalk who obviously came into the path of a car who could not stop in time, how would that be handled? I always drive with dash cams which should clarify any "he said she said" type things.
Driving today on Morrisville Parkway, a runner crossed at the ATC crosswalk and did not bother looking either way and did not break his cadence. I did not have to slam on my brakes, and I probably would not have hit him, but I did have to brake quickly to avoid a possibly very uncomfortable moment. I was going the speed limit which is 45 mph and did not see him until he was already crossing since he did not pause.
I've seen bicyclists and runners cross without breaking stride or speed without obviously turning their heads, but usually I've been far enough not to really think it's an issue, but today I was really shocked. I guess they are depending on peripheral vision, but I run on the trail, and I always stop and look both ways before crossing.
I don't want to come across as insensitive, but short of stopping at the crosswalk in the road and looking both ways, I I can't help people who don't have the desired ability of self-preservation.
Great topic: while training for the Walt Disney World Marathon last fall/winter, I did all my long runs on the ATT--- basically Massey Chapel Road or Scott King Rd. as far down as Wimberly Road and back.
As a runner, you never assume that the driver of a vehicle at New Hope Church, O'Kelly, Morrisvile or any "crossing" sees you (and OP, it sounds like you practice the same: as a runner, stop, look both ways, etc) and won't accidentally run you over. That's stupid that a runner would take right of way for granted. I even stopped for a bicyclist who was riding on New Hope Chapel Road once and he slowed and said, go head go head, and only then I started running again and said Thanks!, have a good one.
Once I was catching up to a jogger approaching the O'Kelly Chapel crossing and a minivan was approaching and was going to clear the crossing before the jogger entered the road/crossing. The jogger sped up and almost ran into the back of the minivan, waving his hands all in the air like WTF?!!?! Extremely foolish to debate a two or three ton motor vehicle doing 35, when all you got is sneakers.
Don’t pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks unless it’s signalized for them? Though most drivers around here don’t care - I used to go to the YMCA on Hillsborough St and despite a crosswalk with a yield for pedestrians sign, most people just ignored it and I waited till there were no cars to cross.
When an intersection has a stop sign, the driver must stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
When an intersection has a stoplight, vehicles must stop and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk when the light is red.
When no traffic control signals are in place at an intersection, vehicles must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk, whether the crosswalk is marked or not.
When a flashing red light is installed somewhere other than an intersection, vehicles must stop and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
When a flashing yellow light is installed somewhere other than an intersection, vehicles may proceed with caution.
Pedestrians must obey traffic control devices. A pedestrian who has partially completed the crossing when the light turns red can proceed to a sidewalk or safety island. Pedestrians cannot enter crosswalks so suddenly that drivers do not have the opportunity to stop.
So if you hit a pedestrian at an unsignalized crosswalk, you’d be at fault. It’s your responsiblity to drive at a safe speed so you can stop in time if there was someone crossing and to pay attention to people who might do so.
This is what I have been wondering about crosswalks - do pedestrians in ALL crosswalks have right of way to traffic? There are plenty around Cary, Morrisville, well the entire Triangle where these crosswalks are across 4 lane roads and hardly anyone stops for people waiting at the sides. Even if a person begins to cross the beginning 2 lanes of the road, still no one stops on the opposing 2 lanes of traffic. Morrisville installed some bright flashing yellow LED lights on Town Hall Dr when someone is in the crosswalk on that 4 lane road so that gets drivers' attention quickly.
Drivers do regularly stop on the 2 lane crosswalks but it's not like it's over 90% or anything.
When an intersection has a stop sign, the driver must stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
When an intersection has a stoplight, vehicles must stop and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk when the light is red.
When no traffic control signals are in place at an intersection, vehicles must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk, whether the crosswalk is marked or not.
When a flashing red light is installed somewhere other than an intersection, vehicles must stop and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
When a flashing yellow light is installed somewhere other than an intersection, vehicles may proceed with caution.
Pedestrians must obey traffic control devices. A pedestrian who has partially completed the crossing when the light turns red can proceed to a sidewalk or safety island. Pedestrians cannot enter crosswalks so suddenly that drivers do not have the opportunity to stop.
So if you hit a pedestrian at an unsignalized crosswalk, you’d be at fault. It’s your responsiblity to drive at a safe speed so you can stop in time if there was someone crossing and to pay attention to people who might do so.
Driver being at fault (legaleeze) doesn't help when I as the pedestrian am dead. Pedestrians should always take duty for themselves and their family to assume driver doesn't see them.
Driver being at fault (legaleeze) doesn't help when I as the pedestrian am dead. Pedestrians should always take duty for themselves and their family to assume driver doesn't see them.
True but I was just answering the OP’s question of:
I don't want to come across as insensitive, but it makes me wonder if one were to hit somebody on the crosswalk who obviously came into the path of a car who could not stop in time, how would that be handled? I always drive with dash cams which should clarify any "he said she said" type things.
I don't want to come across as insensitive, but it makes me wonder if one were to hit somebody on the crosswalk who obviously came into the path of a car who could not stop in time, how would that be handled? I always drive with dash cams which should clarify any "he said she said" type things.
If the trail crosswalk is marked as many of them are (but not all) with diamond pedestrian signs and white pavement stripes, I think you would lose in court - regardless of how unaware/uncaring the pedestrian/cyclist was.
it's marked on the pavement, and has what appears to be ample signage for vehicles. There's even one that says "State Law: Yield to Pedestrians within Crosswalk".
Given the solar panels on some of the signs, I assume that's for some blinking light when a pedestrian approaches the crosswalk.
Is the pedestrian/runner stupid to assert their rights, unconcerned for the effects of 3-6K pounds running into them? Sure. But will the vehicle be at fault? Sure.
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Dumb move by joggers/bikers to blow through these
