Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges • Hacker News Board

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#91

Post by avs733 » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:46 PM UTC

efitz wrote: post #21

gameswithgo wrote: post #2

In Austin Texas we have an absurdly well marked crosswalk on the way to the elementary school, to a close approximation nobody has ever stopped to let us cross. Our daughter was nearly killed once, so far. It seems so many people in America are so fat now they don’t imagine people would ever walk, so they drive without regard for pedestrians and active hostility towards cyclists and park in the way of sidewalks, maki…

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

"In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas."

That seems like a problem that could be solved through zoning. Solutions that by your definition inherently put people at risk seem an easy thing to re-evaluate.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#92

Post by cnity » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:46 PM UTC

efitz wrote: post #21

gameswithgo wrote: post #2

In Austin Texas we have an absurdly well marked crosswalk on the way to the elementary school, to a close approximation nobody has ever stopped to let us cross. Our daughter was nearly killed once, so far. It seems so many people in America are so fat now they don’t imagine people would ever walk, so they drive without regard for pedestrians and active hostility towards cyclists and park in the way of sidewalks, maki…

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

> it would be nice if we had more sidewalks, but they are financially unsustainable

"No way of preventing this, says person in only country where "this" happens."

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#93

Post by collegeburner » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:46 PM UTC

goodpoint wrote: post #67

efitz wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

No. Distances are high because of low density. Sidewalks are financially unsustainable because of low density. People are obese also because they don't walk because of low density. Low density is caused by car culture pushed by car manufacturers and oil companies.

Because I don't want to live in some 3x3 postage stamp with close neighbors and people peering in and no yard, let alone an apartment sharing walls between people. Screw high density, I've lived in it and it sucks. Oh and I am extremely fit, obesity is bad choices not "car culture".

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#94

Post by kodablah » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:46 PM UTC

Aeolun wrote: post #66

efitz wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

> it would be nice if we had more sidewalks, but they are financially unsustainable I call bullshit. The smallest 50 people village in the Netherlands has sidewalks. It’s not that it’s unsustainable, it’s that nobody wants to pay for it. Or that americans build too friggin big.

What about the largest 50 person village?

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#95

Post by sillyquiet » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:47 PM UTC

paulgb wrote: post #26

sillyquiet wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since pedestrian deaths are 'surging', its gotta be down to something that's changed, not a factor that's been constant all along, right?

One thing mentioned in the article that rings very true is that vehicles are getting bigger. It’s not unusual to see trucks where the front grill is too high to see a child, or even some adults. We have the statistics to know that these vehicles are disproportionately likely to kill pedestrians, but vehicles sell based on the safety of people inside the vehicle, not people outside of it. It’s a vicious circle, too. I…

Maybe. Again, there have been ginormous trucks and SUVs around the rounds since the 90s, why would we see a sudden spike and not a gradual increase since then?

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#96

Post by avs733 » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:47 PM UTC

rocgf wrote: post #78

efitz wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

Seeing sidewalks called financially unsustainable made my day.

Sidewalks are an optional extra on road building so...in his defense...you can't build a sidewalk without a road, which makes it significantly more expensive.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#97

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:47 PM UTC

collegeburner wrote: post #93

goodpoint wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. Distances are high because of low density. Sidewalks are financially unsustainable because of low density. People are obese also because they don't walk because of low density. Low density is caused by car culture pushed by car manufacturers and oil companies.

Because I don't want to live in some 3x3 postage stamp with close neighbors and people peering in and no yard, let alone an apartment sharing walls between people. Screw high density, I've lived in it and it sucks. Oh and I am extremely fit, obesity is bad choices not "car culture".

[deleted]

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#98

Post by joefife » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:47 PM UTC

Aeolun wrote: post #66

efitz wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

> it would be nice if we had more sidewalks, but they are financially unsustainable I call bullshit. The smallest 50 people village in the Netherlands has sidewalks. It’s not that it’s unsustainable, it’s that nobody wants to pay for it. Or that americans build too friggin big.

Indeed. It's a very strange argument - sidewalks require significantly less to sustain.

For a start, the build quality can be a lot lower - a sidewalk doesn't need to support lorries with 13t loads.

As for maintenance, the damage to them is far less, and repairing a sidewalk would usually be a small diversion rather than the drama of a road closure.

I'm not quite sure why anyone would think sidewalks are an unthinkable burden.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#99

Post by stirbot » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:48 PM UTC

While this driver appears to be facing homicide by vehicle charges in addition to fleeing the scene, it is very common in the US for a driver to kill a pedestrian and face no criminal charges or loss of driving privileges as long as they stop and dial 911. While out walking I often think of a quote from a Freakomomics podcast that goes something like 'the best way to get away will killing someone in the US is to hit them with your car'.

The high rate of pedestrian deaths is a result of policy regarding road design, pedestrian infrastructure and lenient criminal charges. The driving culture is also to blame. Driving is a god given right. Cars equal freedom, and the bigger the better. Pedestrians are a nuisance and cyclists are the enemy.

Vehicles sold now are too fast for their intended purpose. You can buy a Toyota Camry with 300 HP and a 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds. Twenty years ago that was Porsche 911 territory. The upcoming Hummer EV touts a 3.0 second 0-60 and weighs in at 9000 lbs. Insane

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#100

Post by goodpoint » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:48 PM UTC

collegeburner wrote: post #93

goodpoint wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. Distances are high because of low density. Sidewalks are financially unsustainable because of low density. People are obese also because they don't walk because of low density. Low density is caused by car culture pushed by car manufacturers and oil companies.

Because I don't want to live in some 3x3 postage stamp with close neighbors and people peering in and no yard, let alone an apartment sharing walls between people. Screw high density, I've lived in it and it sucks. Oh and I am extremely fit, obesity is bad choices not "car culture".

You should visit other countries.