More pedestrians being hit by distracted drivers (license, car)

[jsvh]

Jaywalking laws need to be taken off the books. They are the perfect manifestation of this issue. They only make things more dangerous for pedestrians and burden the victim.

The secret history of jaywalking: The disturbing reason it was outlawed

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Gulch

I think it's safe to say people in general are idiots.

You nailed it.

In my opinion drivers fiddling with their phones are a huge problem. They've got two tons of steel and a couple of hundred horsepower at their fingertips.

Of course there are idiot pedestrians, too, and they may well harm themselves. The people wandering through parking lots are the ones who get me.

Fortunately, however, pedestrians only pose a risk to themselves. It's the drivers who indiscriminately put everybody else in harm's way.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by ElleKaye

I go along with what you'rw sayihg. Even if a person is not jaywalking, we tend to be looking for the same thing. I'm looking for a opening large enough to make a right turn and they are lookin for an opehig large enough to cross nthe street I have only had it happen maybe three times, but my reflexes are good.

I know it's not the coolest thing ever to wear reflective gear, but I bought my dad some light up shoe strings. He's taken to walking around a few blocks after dinner and it just needed to ber done. I'd get himn a vest or a belt, but I know there's no chance he'd wear them.

More streetlights, especially in suburban areas where there are little along roads.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

You nailed it.

In my opinion drivers fiddling with their phones are a huge problem. They've got two tons of steel and a couple of hundred horsepower at their fingertips.

Of course there are idiot pedestrians, too, and they may well harm themselves. The people wandering through parking lots are the ones who get me.

Fortunately, however, pedestrians only pose a risk to themselves. It's the drivers who indiscriminately put everybody else in harm's way.

PEDs who choose to risk their life and cross a multilane road instead of using a crosswalk a 100 yards away.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Jaywalking laws need to be taken off the books. They are the perfect manifestation of this issue. They only make things more dangerous for pedestrians and burden the victim.

The secret history of jaywalking: The disturbing reason it was outlawed

There should be a middle ground between the draconian use of jaywalking laws and people randomly walking out into streets. The latter is especially dangerous on highways intended primarily for fast vehicle traffic.

We need more and better sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic lights, hawk signs, etc., so that pedestrians can cross safely. But you've gotta have some rules.

[DJDeadParrot]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

Should be an opportunity for the smart phone industry and the automobile industry to step up to the plate and find a way to truly integrate both technologies.

And if it already exists, make it a mandated standard and commonplace on every vehicle.

It pretty much already exists; most new cars have Bluetooth integration. Much of the functionality is disabled while the car is in motion.

[st3mpy]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Jaywalking laws need to be taken off the books. They are the perfect manifestation of this issue. They only make things more dangerous for pedestrians and burden the victim.

The secret history of jaywalking: The disturbing reason it was outlawed

How does creating a controlled environment for cars, bicycles, and pedestrians make things more dangerous?

When I walk my dogs or jog around midtown, I only cross the street at cross walks. They are everywhere. I expect those around when I am on my bike or in my car to do the same.

[Mordin]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Autonomous cars can't get here soon enough.

Originally Posted by jsvh

Self-driving cars can't get here soon enough.

Looks like they still need to iron out some bugs...

Driverless Car Accident Reports Make Unhappy Reading For Humans | TechCrunch

Originally Posted by magnetar

There is no more perfect embodiment of entitlement than an Atlanta driver.

I dunno, SF is pretty damn close.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

There should be a middle ground between the draconian use of jaywalking laws and people randomly walking out into streets. The latter is especially dangerous on highways intended primarily for fast vehicle traffic.

We need more and better sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic lights, hawk signs, etc., so that pedestrians can cross safely. But you've gotta have some rules.

Fast vehicle traffic should be restricted to freeways oy, where PEDs are currently prohibited. Roads with sidewalks, residential and commercial property should not be high speed, higher than 35mph.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by Mordin

Looks like they still need to iron out some bugs...

Driverless Car Accident Reports Make Unhappy Reading For Humans | TechCrunch

Yes, they are still getting hit by other human drivers on the road.

FTA:

Earlier this year Google blogged about the eleven “minor accidents” its driverless cars had been involved in over six years of testing — laying the blame for all 11 incidents at the hands of the other human drivers. Which sounds great for the technology on the surface. But in reality it underlines the inherent complexities of blending two very different styles of driving — and suggests that robot cars might actually be too cautious and careful.

Combine that cautious, by-the-book approach with human drivers’ tendency to take risks and cut corners, and well, that, in itself, might indicate driverless cars’ risk aversion is an accident waiting to happen (at least when human drivers are also in the mix).

Again, the human drivers are the issue.

But I am sure they will be able to account for most of that even in the next five years given their rapid progress.