Pedestrian Safety

[DannoXYZ]

Ok, as suggested in another thread, here's one on pedestrian traffic. These are the pertinent codes in California:

CVC-275 (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d01/vc275.htm) -Crosswalk

275. "Crosswalk" is either:

(a) That portion of a roadway included within the prolongation or connection of the boundary lines of sidewalks at intersection where the intersecting roadways meet at approximately right angles, except the prolongation of such lines from an alley across a street.

(b) Any portion of a roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, there shall not be a crosswalk where local authorities have placed signs indicating no crossing.
Also contrary to popular urban-legend and myth that "pedestrians always have right of way", they only have it in crosswalks:

CVC-21954 (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21954.htm) - Pedestrians Outside Crosswalks -

21954. (a) Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway.Even in intersections, pedestrians don't automatically have all right-of-way. They can't suddenly jump out into the crosswalk and expect cars to stop:

CVC - 21950 (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21950.htm) - Right-of-Way at Crosswalks

21950. (a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(b) This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

(c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.

(d) Subdivision (b) does not relieve a driver of a vehicle from the duty of exercising due care for the safety of any pedestrian within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
CVC-21456 (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21456.htm) - Walk, Wait, or Don't Walk

21456. Whenever a pedestrian control signal showing the words "WALK" or "WAIT" or "DON'T WALK" or other approved symbol is in place, the signal shall indicate as follows:

(a) "WALK" or approved "Walking Person" symbol. A pedestrian facing the signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal, but shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that signal is first shown.

(b) Flashing or steady "DON'T WALK" or "WAIT" or approved "Upraised Hand" symbol. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed crossing shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety zone or otherwise leave the roadway while the "WAIT" or "DON'T WALK" or approved "Upraised Hand" symbol is showing.
CVC-21451 (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21451.htm) - Circular Green or Green Arrow

21451. (a) A driver facing a circular green signal shall proceed straight through or turn right or left or make a U-turn unless a sign prohibits a U-turn. Any driver, including one turning, shall yield the right-of-way to other traffic and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.

(b) A driver facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, shall enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by that green arrow or any other movement that is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. A driver facing a left green arrow may also make a U-turn unless prohibited by a sign. A driver shall yield the right-of-way to other traffic and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.

(c) A pedestrian facing a circular green signal, unless prohibited by sign or otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 21456, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk, but shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that signal is first shown.

(d) A pedestrian facing a green arrow turn signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 21456, shall not enter the roadway.

[DannoXYZ]

I've only had two first-hand experiences with pedestrians, really.

The first time was downtown and I was cruising down a slight grade @ 25-30mph or so. I saw a lady closing the trunk of her car that was parked on the street. Then as soon as the lid was closed, she ran out into the street. I barely had time to swerve and brake at the same time. I ended up running over her foot and catching a little air. Tyres skidded and squealed in rebellion as I landed; my heart racing @ 200bpm+ . I screamed the standard expletives at her and walked the remaining block to my office. About 15-minutes later, I got a visit from the cops about the incident. I told them what happened and they basically said that it was all hearsay and they can't really do anything about it. But if they had witnessed the lady running out, they could've written her up for crossing outside of a crosswalk and not yielding to traffic.

Another similar event happened in Isla Vista (college community next to UCSB). An eldery man walked out to cross the street mid-block around dusk and was hit by a cyclist. The guy ended up dying from head-injuries. The cyclist was cited for not having an operable light on after sunset and that was it. The DA said that if the guy crossing the street had been in an intersection, then there may be grounds for some sort of negligence or manslaughter charges against the cyclist.

In the end, even if you DO have right-of-way under certain circumstances, it does you no good if you're dead...

[noisebeam]

From a pedestrian rights point of view there are two things the general public is often not aware of:

1. Pedestrian have ROW at unmarked crosswalks (with clarification CVC 21950 b) - Many people don't even know they exist and those that do are often not aware how common they are as a traffic control device may not exist at the intersection.
2. Pedestrians can cross, while elding ROW to vehicles, mid-block as long at the mid-block section is not between two directly adjacent signal controlled intersections.

Al

[DannoXYZ]

1. Pedestrian have ROW at unmarked crosswalks (with clarification CVC 21950 b) - Many people don't even know they exist and those that do are often not aware how common they are as a traffic control device may not exist at the intersection.I take combining both 21950a & 21950b that both drivers & pedestrians are responsible for their safety. Drivers should be aware at intersections of pedestrians and stop if possible to do so safely. And pedestrians shouldn't step into the street unless it's safe, that is the intersection is empty or if the car's far away & slow enough to stop in time.

2. Pedestrians can cross, while elding ROW to vehicles, mid-block as long at the mid-block section is not between two directly adjacent signal controlled intersections.Yeah, there's another code there somewhere that I didn't dig up. Something about being in a business-district with traffic-light controlled intersections at both ends. In which case, a pedestrian MUST cross only at the intersections. The grey area I'm always wondering about is the case of a block with traffic-lights only at one end... then I guess they can cross anywhere as long as they yield to traffic...

[Keith99]

In the end, even if you DO have right-of-way under certain circumstances, it does you no good if you're dead...

If you go back and look at the California Vehicle Code sections posted earlier in this thread you can see something. All the references to right of way are like this:

shall yield the right-of-way

The entire vehicle code is like this. It never says you have the right of way, only that someone else must yeild it. In California there is only one time when you have the right of way, that is when it is yeilded to you.

[DannoXYZ]

So who has ROW if no one yields it?

Roundabouts are another situation where things are very iffy... can't find any mention of pedestrian interactions in a roundabout...

[noisebeam]

Take the Jaywalking Quiz (http://www.walkable.org/download/Jaywalking.pdf)

(really not a quiz, but a graphic on one page and an explaination of legal crossing places on the 3rd page)

Al

[donnamb]

I just spent the last 2 and a half weeks in Santa Monica and I noticed something weird every time I tried to cross at a crosswalk with a light. You had to stop and wait even when you had the walk signal because 1-3 cars who were making a right (in front of your path) would gun it when the light turned green so as to be faster than pedestrians who were just taking their first step. Is that allowed according to the CVC? I ask because it happened with such predictable regularity. Also, is there any regulation in CA about keeping a certain distance from pedestrians in a crosswalk when a car is making a left? It seemed like 6-8 inches was what 90% of the motorists considered acceptable.

It was strange. I've taken vacations in West L.A. and Santa Monica for 28 years and I've walked a great deal during each of those trips. From a pedestrian perspective, I've never experienced motorists driving so recklessly before. Any significant changes in CA law in the last 5 years?

[Bekologist]

i think the difference is in the pulse of the nation and not the changes in the law, donna. Collectively, I feel Americans are living in a near constant state of road rage when they they are in their automobiles.

[KnhoJ]

I just spent the last 2 and a half weeks in Santa Monica and I noticed something weird every time I tried to cross at a crosswalk with a light. You had to stop and wait even when you had the walk signal because 1-3 cars who were making a right (in front of your path) would gun it when the light turned green so as to be faster than pedestrians who were just taking their first step.
They do that in Salmon Creek, too. I think most of these just forget to look to the right when they turn right. It's not too hard to get their attention and stop them, just raise a hand and intend to smack the car the moment it's within swinging distance. Nine out of ten drivers stop and reverse into the car behind them when I do that. Or:
Walk out while pouring diet Coke at arm's length.
Brandish a folded umbrella. This one has never failed!
Swinging keys demand respect in intersections and parking lots alike.
If your arms are full, raise a foot into fender stomping position. They do have to be paying attention to get this one.

If they get pinned in the crosswalk by heavy cross traffic, (ie, right on red):
Improvise a drum solo on the roof. Think Iron Butterfly.
Fold back the passenger side mirror. (I've heard that pedestrian "safety" is the reason they're required to fold back!)
Flip up the windshield wiper.
If the car is clean, start licking the passenger window or making blowfish window faces. It's really fun when there's a frumpy older couple in a new Mercedes. Especially when it's a somewhat dishevelled thirty something guy slobbering all over their car. :p

[genec]

i think the difference is in the pulse of the nation and not the changes in the law, donna. Collectively, I feel Americans are living in a near constant state of road rage when they they are in their automobiles.

Must be something like that, cause the laws didn't change... but the motorists did.

I tend to think it is both a combination of stress brought on by too many vehicles on roads designed for far less traffic... plus the demands of this "instant gratification" world... and the isolation many motorists get from rolled up windows, cell phones, stereos and the like in their climate controlled coccoons.

Some pretty funny responses there by KnhoJ. I would only hesitate to touch another's car for fear that they go ballistic based on that semi-road rage thing.

People can be so darn touchy about their cars these days.

[Ganesha]

Swinging keys demand respect in intersections and parking lots alike.

I've tried this it doesn't work, my keys keep getting cared.

[Dchiefransom]

I just spent the last 2 and a half weeks in Santa Monica and I noticed something weird every time I tried to cross at a crosswalk with a light. You had to stop and wait even when you had the walk signal because 1-3 cars who were making a right (in front of your path) would gun it when the light turned green so as to be faster than pedestrians who were just taking their first step. Is that allowed according to the CVC? I ask because it happened with such predictable regularity. Also, is there any regulation in CA about keeping a certain distance from pedestrians in a crosswalk when a car is making a left? It seemed like 6-8 inches was what 90% of the motorists considered acceptable.

It was strange. I've taken vacations in West L.A. and Santa Monica for 28 years and I've walked a great deal during each of those trips. From a pedestrian perspective, I've never experienced motorists driving so recklessly before. Any significant changes in CA law in the last 5 years?

Both of your examples are failure to yield on the part of motorists. About three times a year in San Jose, the police use a plainclothes person to use a crosswalk and ticket the drivers that don't stop. They also do it to right turners at stop lights. I learned to drive in Michigan, and remember the phrase in the vehicle code; "may proceed when the intersection is clear". I haven't seen it in California's vehicle code yet. A car that is missing someone by a few inches is not "proceeding when the intersection is clear".

[KnhoJ]

People can be so darn touchy about their cars these days.
They know that any physical contact while they're driving means destruction! Just touching a car with one finger will often trigger a similar psychological response to contact with another car. (no references, just a few personal experiments :D )
I'm not especially worried about reactions from drivers pulling out into traffic. I think a lot of that road rage stuff comes from pent up anxiety over other drivers honking or physically menacing them. (threatening to *touch* them, shudder...) And when someone has another car behind them waiting to pull out, or they're rolling into traffic, they're usually more worried about those two groups being mean to them if they impede traffic than they are about me.
Next time you're in a car at the front of the right lane at a red light: Turn on your right turn signal, don't move an inch until the light turns green, and pay attention to your level of anxiety in the meantime. (will you GO already!) I believe that's why a lot of drivers push ahead of pedestrians; it's to keep the guy behind them from being a big meany person.

[John E]

I just spent the last 2 and a half weeks in Santa Monica and I noticed something weird every time I tried to cross at a crosswalk with a light. You had to stop and wait even when you had the walk signal because 1-3 cars who were making a right (in front of your path) would gun it when the light turned green so as to be faster than pedestrians who were just taking their first step. ...

I have gotten so sick of getting right-hooked as a pedestrian that, under certain select circumstances, I have resorted to a strategy of "vehicular jogging/walking." If I am going in the same direction as traffic, I sometimes feel more comfortable using a bike lane which separates through motor traffic from right-turn-only traffic than I do on the sidewalk.

[donnamb]

It's not too hard to get their attention and stop them, just raise a hand and intend to smack the car the moment it's within swinging distance. Nine out of ten drivers stop and reverse into the car behind them when I do that. Or:
Walk out while pouring diet Coke at arm's length.
Brandish a folded umbrella. This one has never failed!
Swinging keys demand respect in intersections and parking lots alike.
If your arms are full, raise a foot into fender stomping position. They do have to be paying attention to get this one.

People were banging on cars as they passed too closely. Quite often, too. The motorists would just honk their horn and yell at the pedestrian. I like the diet coke idea. First time I've ever heard of a practical use for the stuff.

[KnhoJ]

People were banging on cars as they passed too closely. Quite often, too. The motorists would just honk their horn and yell at the pedestrian. I like the diet coke idea. First time I've ever heard of a practical use for the stuff.
Yikes! That's creepy. Not much left to do there but put up with it or snap off an antenna to beat the next cars in line with.