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Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US?

construction-physics.com

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Re: Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US?

#91

Post by potato3732842 »

softwaredoug wrote: post #42
banga wrote: post #30

This morning while jogging in the US I came to an intersection. Green lights and walk on in my direction. A car approaching from my left had a red light, the driver glanced to his left and without stopping or looking in my direction, turned right across my path. I expected this of course, so avoided being run over. If I wasn't watching for this, it likely would be a different outcome. So why do so many pedestrians ge…

Right turns are really dangerous for pedestrians. A lot of localities started banning right-on-red because cars look left only.

The problem is that even if they look back and fourth and know you're there the "go" condition (no incoming cross traffic) is the same for both parties so it's a ready made "two idiots trying to pass each other in the hallway" situation.

I think it speaks volumes that the discussion is anchored around whether cars look or not despite the fact that the underlying algorithm will produce conflicts even if they do.

Re: Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US?

#92

Post by trollbridge »

willis936 wrote: post #23
bradfa wrote: post #3

Pedestrians are hit by cars in the USA because the roads are not designed for non-car users. This is exacerbated by distracted driving, drunk driving, and recent car design changes like higher hood heights but the root of it is poorly designed roads which don’t consider pedestrians’ needs.

As compared to the European roads that are half the width of US roads?

There are lots of narrow roads in America, like the one I currently live on, which is about 1.75 lanes wide. If I come up against a large truck, one of us has to pull to the side.

Most people prefer not to drive on roads like that.

Re: Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US?

#93

Post by IanCal »

denismenace wrote: post #34
willis936 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As compared to the European roads that are half the width of US roads?

Yes, european roads are not as wide, since they make place for proper sidewalks and bike lanes. Another advantage is that narrower roads make drivers drive more carefully and slowly, reducing accidents even further.

I wish people would stop assuming that an area with 500M people, more than 20 countries and far more cultures are one addressable block.

Some places are, others are absolutely awful.

> Another advantage is that narrower roads make drivers drive more carefully and slowly,

In some places, in others people go absolutely hell for leather because the roads are pretty fun.

This varies city to city.

Re: Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US?

#95

Post by Waterluvian »

banga wrote: post #30

This morning while jogging in the US I came to an intersection. Green lights and walk on in my direction. A car approaching from my left had a red light, the driver glanced to his left and without stopping or looking in my direction, turned right across my path. I expected this of course, so avoided being run over. If I wasn't watching for this, it likely would be a different outcome. So why do so many pedestrians ge…

The more I look, the more I see a cultural mindset of “someone else’s problem; someone else’s fault.”

I see that in both 1, and 2, and the lawyer ads everywhere necessary to make the consequences also someone else’s problem and fault.

Re: Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US?

#96

Post by pmontra »

Toorkit wrote: post #5
websiteapi wrote: post #2

I had a suspicion that there were more idiots on the road after and during covid. good to see this reflected in the data, but sad to know that it's actually true. no matter where I go in the USA I see people speeding easily 50% over the limit, running red lights, blowing through stop signs. it's ridiculous. given how many people die I'm surprised government's having made safety technology mandatory. things like toyot…

Not just the US, my village in Germany has a limit of 30 kph, people drive through with 60.

Not Germany here but I witnessed buses of the bus company of my former city driving at 50 or more in a 30 km/h area. Some of those areas have a 30 limit because of a good reason, some probably only to add up kilometers and make the city council look good.

Re: Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US?

#97

Post by quantumwannabe »

physicsguy wrote: post #72

I was amazed when I travelled to the US at just how pedestrian hostile it is. I was travelling to a conference in San Diego and it was just impossible to walk safely between where I was staying and where I was going to because this was the road: https://maps.app.goo.gl/G2PeVbEzQyqbgDTN9

Only because you chose to walk through the port instead of through town. Google Maps' walking route is shorter than the route that goes through that road, entirely on sidewalks, and only requires crossing one road wider than one car lane per direction (and said road has a signalized crosswalk). There is also a pedestrian bridge across that road that could be used instead, but Google didn't pick it, likely because it connects with "private" property (the convention center's path).

https://maps.app.goo.gl/asfGrRLkLmtpqnps5

Re: Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US?

#99

Post by baggachipz »

A4ET8a8uTh0_v2 wrote: post #47
rjbwork wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even moreso than guns, the automobile industry has been waging an incredibly successful propaganda campaign for over a century now equating the ownership and use of a personal automobile with freedom.

Have you tried to move around US w/o it? As propaganda goes, it is pretty spot on.

Only because the car companies made it that way through lobbying and stifling mass transit efforts.

Re: Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US?

#100

Post by cedilla »

pixl97 wrote: post #58
Toorkit wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not just the US, my village in Germany has a limit of 30 kph, people drive through with 60.

Have the village start adding some wicked speed bumps.

Speed bumps work but putting big flower pots in the way is even better. It forces people to slow down without giving them the feeling that they get slowed down for no reason.

We humans are so easy to trick.

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