Two pedestrians killed in Oakland (Pittsburgh: 2015, credit, move)

[BigPizzaHutFan]

I just killed a pedestrian with my car, guys. No big deal. These things happen. *shrug* *Jerry Seinfeld smirk*

It's disgusting how lightly killing someone is taken when you do it with your car. The victim blaming is exactly what's meant by "car culture."

[BigPizzaHutFan]

Originally Posted by erieguy

I don't see it that way at all, but again you assume.

It's right in the language you use. I say I have a problem with the way drivers blithely kill pedestrians, and you say I have a problem with driving. It's there in the words you use. You don't even seem to realize that you do it.

[erieguy]

There is no proof or you would have posted it. As of now, nobody is at fault until the police report otherwise. If/when you talk to the police and have proof in regards to the accident being discussed, I'd appreciate it if you could please post the info.

[Copanut]

Oakland is definitely a bad area for drivers vs pedestrians, a tragic accident to be sure. No matter who is to blame or if it was an accident, it's a tragedy.

I'm always amazed how people JUST DON'T LOOK BOTH WAYS when crossing. See it all the time. I think I learned that in grade school. Even if the icon says Walk, I still check in both directions. Too many people walking distracted or oblivious with cellphones or headphones.

[SteelCityRising]

This is just tragic all around. The victims' families are grieving. I just saw a photo in the Tribune-Review's article in which a female, presumably the driver who first hit the man in the wheelchair, is leaning on the hood of a black SUV and weeping. A bus passenger said he saw the bus driver leaning against a wall crying. Other passengers were reported to have screamed and immediately called 911 as they realized they ran over both individuals.

I frequently make deliveries to the VA and routinely use that intersection. For the life of me I can't envision a way in which someone inbound on Centre and turning up Allequippa wouldn't be able to see pedestrians crossing in front of the bus. It was too early for sun glare to be a factor. All I can think of is maybe the woman went to turn left up Allequippa as her light had just turned red while the bus started to proceed as its light was just about to turn green (I see buses "jump the gun" all the time). This would leave the pedestrians in the opposing lane of travel, obscured by the bus.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Oakland is definitely a bad area for drivers vs pedestrians, a tragic accident to be sure. No matter who is to blame or if it was an accident, it's a tragedy.

I'm always amazed how people JUST DON'T LOOK BOTH WAYS when crossing. See it all the time. I think I learned that in grade school. Even if the icon says Walk, I still check in both directions. Too many people walking distracted or oblivious with cellphones or headphones.

Bingo!

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Oakland is definitely a bad area for drivers vs pedestrians, a tragic accident to be sure. No matter who is to blame or if it was an accident, it's a tragedy.

I'm always amazed how people JUST DON'T LOOK BOTH WAYS when crossing. See it all the time. I think I learned that in grade school. Even if the icon says Walk, I still check in both directions. Too many people walking distracted or oblivious with cellphones or headphones.

I know ElijahAustin will flip on me for this one, but this past Friday evening was terrifying driving around Squirrel Hill. We mixed an increasingly dark rush hour with increased congestion from the Greenfield Bridge closure and then tossed fast-moving Hasidic Jews into the mix---wearing all black and rushing to temple. I saw many "near-misses" with the Hasidic Jews just assuming they were visible as they entered the non-signalized crosswalks on Wightman between Darlington and Hobart and Beacon between Wightman and Murray. I had no trouble yielding, as I'm younger, have good eyesight, and was intentionally driving as close to 25 as possible; however, they were playing a very dangerous game of "chicken" with many OTHER drivers who were older, distracted, and/or rushing due to the bridge closure delays. I'm afraid a Hasidic Jew may get hit this coming Friday evening.

[TBonzie]

Originally Posted by BigPizzaHutFan

The state grants that privilege with the assumption that the driver will drive safely and competently. A driver who kills a pedestrian is obviously not capable of that, and their right to drive should be revoked, at least until a full investigation is made into the issue.

You're operating under the erroneous assumption that the driver is at fault at all times. The driver may, or may not be at fault and having an accident, even one with a fatality, does not mean that a driver should be stripped of the privilege of driving unless there is something like DUI involved.

Sometimes an accident is just that, an accident.

I don't know who's at fault in this case so can't comment definitively on it, but one think I can say - the surviving family/families and the driver and any bystanders will never be the same again. Tragic.

I lived in Oakland during my college years. You crossed when you could, light or no light because in many parts of Oakland, traffic *never* stopped. I was always careful when either walking around Oakland, or driving there.

[sealie]

This is the second death in a week that was immediately followed by people retreating into their familiar pro-car/anti-car positions and coming out swinging. It's repulsive and leaves little room for rational discussion. You could wait until the body is no longer warm, at least, if you desperately need to continue this repetitive bickerfest for some personal reason.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by sealie

This is the second death in a week that was immediately followed by people retreating into their familiar pro-car/anti-car positions and coming out swinging. It's repulsive and leaves little room for rational discussion. You could wait until the body is no longer warm, at least, if you desperately need to continue this repetitive bickerfest for some personal reason.

Like it or not discussion about these tragedies might help to prevent FURTHER tragedies if more pro-car people on this sub-forum feel empathetic enough to alter their driving habits. I know I've DEFINITELY ebbed my aggressive driving significantly since moving here, albeit I still need to check my speed as I look down and see I'm doing 35 "with the flow of traffic" on FAR too many streets that are marked 25, such as Beacon, Wilkins, and, yes, Forbes.

Publicizing these tragic deaths is a GOOD thing if we motorists slow the hell down and take extra care in the future to prevent more pain and suffering.