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Pedestrian Safety in The Villages
Many drivers in The Villages are not from Florida and are not aware of Florida Traffic Laws regarding pedestrians.
From the Florida Drivers Handbook Chapter 3 regarding Pedestrians "It is the motorist's responsibility to do everything possible to avoid colliding with any pedestrians. Bicyclists, skaters and skateboarders in a crosswalk or driveway are considered pedestrians. Turning motorists must yield to pedestrians at intersections with traffic signals. Motorists must yield to pedestrians crossing the street or driveway at any marked mid-block crossing, driveway or intersection without traffic signals." Too many motorists ignore the pedestrian signs at mid block crosswalks such as on Stillwater just west of Canal at Lake Sumter Landing. If a pedestrian is waiting to cross, you the driver should stop to allow that to happen. |
how do I know pedestrians want to cross, do they raise a finger, In my opinion they must indicate that they want to cross. Often they are waiting for another pedestrian, so how do I know? Also be aware that the car behind you may not realize what is happening, and you may get rear ended. Problem is half of them are on cell phones and aren't paying attention to anything.
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None of these things negate the law. I'd rather explain why I was hit from behind (his fault not mine) than why I ran over a pedestrian. |
I agree with you about the crosswalk on Stillwater. The landscaping in that area makes it difficult to see a pedestrian. The bushes need to be removed completely not just trimmed.
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Would be great to see some newspaper advice to visitors on this type of topic. |
I read somewhere that four locations in Florida are in the top ten most dangerous cities for pedestrians in the U.S. Orlando is the most dangerous city in the country followed by Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville.
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Pedestrian Crossing: 50 State Summary
You have to stop if someone is in the crosswalk, but in some states pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to vehicles when crossing outside of a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. http://www.ncsl.org/research/transpo...e-summary.aspx |
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Shrubs yes but please talk it up with your friends. Get the message out. Stop for pedestrians. Believe it or not it does happen in Massachusetts and if it can happen there any other place should be able to succeed.
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Encouraged that as of 8AM today , about 400 have at least read this post although probably me several times.
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CarlaB,
I worked in Northern Ca. for 10 yrs and we noticed the same thing. If a pedestrian got close to the crosswalk the traffic hesitated and waited to see if the pedestrian intended to cross. VERY SAFE AND COURTEOUS! Drivers here act very entitled. They think the auto has the right of way due to size. It is often a bully mentality that I see in the shopping centers and crosswalks. Drivers are to yield, BY LAW, and as common courtesy. Come on folks! You aren't in that big a hurry! |
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I'm assuming it's an international law .. pedestrians in a cross walk certainly have the right of way in Ontario, Canada. I think the problem may be attributed to failing eyesight, talking on cell phones, slow reflexes and perhaps, a tad of grouchy. |
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The law is the law and as drivers we must obey it.
But I think it's a really bad idea for laws to tell people it's their right to walk out into the street in front of a moving car, bus or truck. As pedestrians we were taught all our lives that you simply do not cross the street when cars are coming. It's common sense because you never know what the oncoming driver is going to do or not do. I don't count on drivers to avoid hitting me while crossing. I count on myself to keep me safe, by staying on the curb till it's safe to cross, and by not walking in front of moving cars. I'll cross only if they are stopped or are coming but far enough away that I can make it across safely. IMO the laws should be changed to indicate it's not safe to walk in front of moving vehicles. |
San Franciscans were well trained to stop when they saw a pedestrian step off a curb whether in a crosswalk or not -- the police ran a campaign announcing the law was to stop and, after a few weeks if warnings, began writing tickets. We learned very quickly to stop, even if the pedestrian was jaywalking (the next campaign was against jaywalking -- it was a bit less successful).
Think the only way to change Florida mentality is to get the police actively involved in enforcing the law. Since I doubt this is going to happen, I'd suggest pedestrians be very careful when crossing streets even the onus should be on the driver. |
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I see pedestrians doing this all the time: they see cars coming and walk into the crosswalk anyway. A couple of times when I have NOT walked out into the unsignalized crosswalk at LSL on the Panera to VanHuesen corner for example, people behind me have said impatiently, "Just GO! The cars have to stop for you!" and they just walk out in front of them. I stay put till it's safe but most people I see around here do not! See: Florida Statutes for Drivers |
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International would mean they all agreed to one common law. |
I would never "assume" when...
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Common sense is to wait until you see NO cars to cross, at a crosswalk. Who knows what anybody KNOWS here? Patience Grasshopper. |
On the flip side, if you are a pedestrian, it would behoove you to cross the street only at a crosswalk. I've had numerous people step out from between two vehicles in the middle of a block and then get angry that I don't slam on my brakes to let them cross. Not only is it rude, it's very dangerous! Walk the extra half a block, it's good for you!
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Common sense-- you may clearly have the right of way as you put you life in mortal danger.
A car weighs more than a ton and the laws of physics demand that it travel x feet after the brakes are applied. Drivers are of verying skill , and yes many have no business driving, but they are. Don't tempt fate -walkers, joggers, cyclist etc. You will eventually loose. |
Here's two more thoughts. When I used to visit Toronto, a very civilized city, except for the Mayor!, pedestrians would hold up a finger to cross.
My other thought is about shopping plaza/ retail parking lots. I don't mind stopping for pedestrians there, but I wish they would concentrate on hurrying across. So many of them abuse my courtesy. They will dial or text their phones while crossing, or walk diagonally thereby taking twice as long, or they will be straining their necks trying to remember where they parked their car, and tend to do a stutter step when they think they've found it or not. I for one hustle across, it's MY LIFE when I'm a pedestrian. Some of these people think that because they have the right of way they are invincible. I'm probably preaching to the choir! |
One thing I have notice about pedestrians here in the Villages. Many of them do not even look when they are walking or crossing a street. It always amazes me how anyone other than a child can cross a street and not be looking in each direction! I see it all the time. Of course cars are not suppose to run down pedestrian's but if they don't see you and you are not looking you are going to get run down and injured or killed.
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