Walking is such a basic, everyday activity—putting one foot in front of the other—that news of pedestrians dying or suffering severe injuries while they're simply out and about is particularly harrowing.
What steps can pedestrians, motorists, even bicyclists take to reduce the danger to people who simply want or need to walk to get from one place to another in the community? Is there anything local or state government is or should be doing?
Ask your questions in comments below and look for a reply from an expert.
Our Patch Pros for this topic are James Ingham of Northfield Hospital EMS, Anne Marie Buck, the police services liaison at the Hopkins Police Department, Dale Butler of Fridley, who blogs about pedestrian safety at a blog called, appropriately enough, Pedestrian Safety, and Fay Simer with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Our panel of experts will check the comments below and try to answer your questions over the course of this Ask a Patch Pro feature on Tuesday, Oct. 23, and Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. Thanks to all our Patch pros and questioners for participating!
Maybe if you were paying attention to the road you wouldn't have to "slam" on your brakes and get rear-ended to stop for a pedestrian.
I find very few drivers watch for people standing at crosswalks that aren't metered in some way and if there is someone right behind me there is no way I'll try to stop at the crosswalk unless the person is literally in the crosswalk because I have no confidence at all that the guy tailgating me wont' slam into me... Also, the other day I stopped at a crosswalk on a street that is right next to an elementary school - and this was at 8:50am while people were walking to school and the guy behind me, instead of stopping, just zoomed around me and flew through the crosswalk and he would have taken out the two kids walking had the timing just been a few seconds later.
It will frustrate the driver behind me, but once they see the pedestrians, they are quickly humbled and understand.
I don't think it is wise to encourage people to walk in front of vehicles. It is too dangerous, and what does anyone gain by trying it? A few minutes time if you are the ped? Is that worth putting your life in the hands of someone who is probably texting and speeding? No. There is a lot being put at risk for little to no gain. It is not wise. Peds should wait for the cars to pass, then cross. Right or wrong, it is the best way to ensure the safety of everyone.