Why do pedestrians try to kill themselves ?

Git101

Since I'm ranting about another subject (ramps) I thought I might ask another traffic related question "Does anybody in Carlow/Tullow know how to use a zebra crossing?"

On a daily basis I watch people walk along the footpath and then suddenly veere 90 degrees and walk across a zebra crossing without slowing down or looking out for traffic.
Do these people think that drivers are physic, can they read your mind, should drivers be expected to guess when you are about to walk out in front of moving traffic?

You are responsible for your own safety.

I have watched drivers stopping just in case the passing pedestrian is going to cross the road, slowing the already nearly stopped traffic even more.

Why can't pedestrians stop at the zebra crossing and wait for the traffic to stop, that should take all of 5 seconds and then cross safely without causing drivers to slam on the brakes.

Am I mistaken or is the proper procedure for the pedestrian to stop at the zebra crossing, put one foot on the crossing to signal that they wish to cross, wait for the traffic to stop and then cross?

mikemac

Git101 wrote: »

Am I mistaken or is the proper procedure for the pedestrian to stop at the zebra crossing, put one foot on the crossing to signal that they wish to cross, wait for the traffic to stop and then cross?

Did you get a booklet in school with Judge the dog and the safe cross code too?
That's the procedure I know too

We have the same situation in Nenagh. The council put down zebra crossings but people don't know how to use them

The procedure is put your hands in your pocket, put your head down and run across.
If a car hits you, call for a solicitor

mikemac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEssgMQ1O_k

Ah who doesn't remember this

Git101

mikemac wrote: »

Did you get a booklet in school with Judge the dog and the safe cross code too?
That's the procedure I know too

Guess we are of a certain age (not to be mentioned)
Yes it was Judge the Dog and the TV ads that were run at about the same time.

amcalester

I could be mistaken but if there are no traffic lights at the crossing in question then pedestrians always have the right of way but if there are traffic lights then they have to wait for the green light.

Also when approaching a crossing you should be prepared to stop to allow pedestrians cross and if this means reducing your speed then so be it.

Pedestrians need to use a bit of cop on as well though.

Git101

Brilliant clip Mikemac.
How did you find that so fast?
My wife has just been singing along with it
Can you find the zebra crossing one?

Git101

amcalester wrote: »

I could be mistaken but if there are no traffic lights at the crossing in question then pedestrians always have the right of way

Right of way and throwing yourself in front of a few tonnes of moving metal are two different things.

Don't get me wrong, I walk, I cycle and I drive so I can see things from all these perspectives; however pedestrians are putting themselves and drivers in danger by not using zebra crossing correctly.

As an example, I was using a zebra crossing this week. I walk up to the crossing and stopped, a guy driving a 4x4 with a trailer jammed on, now I didn't expect him to stop on such short notice, but he totally panicked and stuck his vehicle to the road, I could hear the load on the trailer trying to get into the back of this 4x4. I was happy for him to pass because it was dangerous to stop so suddenly, but he was to scared of hitting a "stupid pedestrian" that he jammed on.

Driving the roads is difficult enough with the pot holes, stupid ramps, lunatic drivers etc. without suicidal pedestrians.

johndaman66

Git101 wrote: »

Am I mistaken or is the proper procedure for the pedestrian to stop at the zebra crossing, put one foot on the crossing to signal that they wish to cross, wait for the traffic to stop and then cross?

I don't think you are mistaken. That is pretty much the procedure as far as I know it.

A few of my little pet hates I'll point out. Is it just me or is it lethal the way pedestrain crossings are just on roundabout exits. Particularly on really busy roundabouts. When you are driving off a busy roundabout which Irish people are for the most part fond of using any way but the right way its an added danger.

Also another gripe, I was standing outside an niteclub last night waiting for friends to exit. It was just alarming how many people spill out onto the street with no regard for oncoming traffic.

patrickc

this isn't really Carlow relevant, it's the same everywhere

aynon

my favorite, seems to only happen in carlow, people walking across the road about 5 yards from a ped crossing or zebra crossing.

Git101

patrickc wrote: »

this isn't really Carlow relevant, it's the same everywhere

We seem to see it in Carlow.
Does that not make it Carlow relevant ??????

patrickc

Git101 wrote: »

We seem to see it in Carlow.
Does that not make it Carlow relevant ??????

just seems more motors relevant, or some other forum related, willl leave it for now though....

Jemmy

Nearly ran over a girl in carlow once bcoz she literally ran out onto the crossing from nowhere and never looked. She ran into the side of my car I was already half way over it, scared the crap out of me. She ran off then after she got up off the road. Silly cow! :mad:

aynon

the biggest problem i see is the zebra crosses at askea and pres. kids think they have the right of way, when they clearly dont, when you are the car, they just run out without looking, even if you are being careful you still dont have proper time to stop in most cases.

Git101

patrickc wrote: »

just seems more motors releavnt, or soem other forum related, willl leave it for now though....

I would have started this thread in another forum but most of the stupid behaviour that I've seen at zebra crossings has been in Co.Carlow.

If you stand between the pedestrian lights and the zebra crossing in Tullow (only a few yards apart) for just a few minutes and watch what goes on.
I'm sure you'll agree that it's relevant to Carlow, you won't witness that behaviour in Dublin or any other city

patrickc

Git101 wrote: »

I would have started this thread in another forum but most of the stupid behaviour that I've seen at zebra crossings has been in Co.Carlow.

If you stand between the pedestrian lights and the zebra crossing in Tullow (only a few yards apart) for just a few minutes and watch what goes on.
I'm sure you'll agree that it's relevant to Carlow, you won't witness that behaviour in Dublin or any other city

i work in dublin and see it all the time, they are the worst for jay walking of anyone..

but how and ever it happens in Carlow also

Git101

Ahh now there's a thing !!
Dubs may be jaywalkers but they will be traffic aware.
Chances are if you see somebody in Dublin walking blindly out into traffic they will be from Carlow

aynon

must of been alot of carlow ppl in dub.

Git101

aynon wrote: »

must of been alot of carlow ppl in dub.

Of course there is.... where else are they going to find jobs !!!

And if they last 6 months they learn that walking out in front of cars in Dublin gets them
1) an earful of abuse from the driver.
2) pain

aynon

or a very sore bum hole......

ShayK1

If you hit a pedestrian on a pedestrian crossing then you are in the wrong. Once a foot leaves the footpath and hits the crossing, they have right of way.

So your procedure may be the smart way of using a zebra crossing but not necessarily the correct way. There's nothing to say a pedestrian has to wait for oncoming cars to stop. It does say that cars have to stop for pedestrians though.

Having zebra crossing at every exit of a roundabout is quite contradictary (sp?) to the purpose of a roundabout though. Roundabouts are supposed to aid the flow of traffic. Sticking crossings on every exits does not help!!

aynon

well if you are moving at a speed which would make it dangerous for you to stop in the distance to the crossing, then the pedestrian crossing, once it is within the speed limit, the pedestrian is in the wrong.

ShayK1

aynon wrote: »

well if you are moving at a speed which would make it dangerous for you to stop in the distance to the crossing, then the pedestrian crossing, once it is within the speed limit, the pedestrian is in the wrong.

Bull!!! A pedestrian crossing is an obstacle, for want of a better word, you have to react to it. If you are approaching one you should adjust your speed. If there are people near it, then maybe you should adjust your speed more.

Just because you're in a 50kph zone doesn't mean you should be doing 50 all the time. I mean, I could interpret what your saying as "Its ok you drive 48kph through a roundabout because its within the speed limit".

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you are moving at a speed which would make it dangerous for you to stop in the distance to the crossing, then you approached the crossing at too high a speed. Regardless of speed limit.

aynon

whats worse is.....i do!

byhookorbycrook

my own personal favourites are the people with buggies who shove the buggy out between cars, you'll meet them any morning on the link road

aynon

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

my own personal favourites are the people with buggies who shove the buggy out between cars, you'll meet them any morning on the link road

as my father always said. "my baby, you take care of it."

ShayK1

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

my own personal favourites are the people with buggies who shove the buggy out between cars, you'll meet them any morning on the link road

That drives me mental too.

HugoIrl

I have to say a crazy thing I see in Carlow is ppl using the roundabout near Superquinn as a short cut cause their too lazy to go the right way round on the paths!

aynon

dont disagree with you there hugo!

country_gurl

I actually think its where the crossings are placed. The one just before supermacs absolutely ridiclous can't see them coming from the left andthen when that road is open there's cars coming everywhere. Another stupid place they put a crossing is the two near aldi's (sorry i dont know the names of the roads) the 1 on the dublin road? when ur coming from aldi and going left u pull out and u basically have to slam on the brakes cause the crossing is just there. Also when ur turning into the aldi road from the dublin road u have to turn fast but then end up slamming on the brakes again as its so near the turn off.
Its just not pedestrians at fault though, the drivers literally just drive at u. When i first moved here i was terrified to drive now i'm one of them!!! Dublin street is crazy - either take the parking out of there or make it 1 way.

Queen-Mise

aynon wrote: »

well if you are moving at a speed which would make it dangerous for you to stop in the distance to the crossing, then the pedestrian crossing, once it is within the speed limit, the pedestrian is in the wrong.

What the rules of the road say on this is: larger vehicles have to watch and protect smaller road users i.e. Artics, trucks, vans, cars, bikes, pedestrians. If you hit something smaller than you, you are most likely automatically wrong.

On carlow crossings, my exp is cars etc drive too fast not enabling them to be able to stop.