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golden_ratio324B21 t1_j2flgej wrote

Reply to comment by CorporateProvocateur in Your Take on DC Pedestrians? Are they Aloof? by CorporateProvocateur

Alternatively, even if I make eye contact with a driver, who’s to say they still wouldn’t mow me over as a ped? If I waited for eye contact and a ‘go ahead’ gesture from drivers, I’d never get anywhere as a pedestrian in this city.

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CorporateProvocateur OP t1_j2fmdls wrote

I understand this perspective. I mean I guess I'm just assuming most drivers don't want to hit people and are less likely to run over a person looking right at them.

I'm not saying wait for permission. I do this because I feel like it makes things super clear. Just seems not worth the risk to be not to check.

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golden_ratio324B21 t1_j2fn240 wrote

I would hope most drivers don’t want to run over people but then again I’ve had drivers look me dead in the eye and still pull out in front of me (also driving). The think there’s a unique combo here of 1) city dwellers used to being pedestrians 2) tourists/those who aren’t comfy being pedestrians as well as 3) people absolutely tuned out for whatever reason as well as notoriously bad drivers in this area so you see al types of behaviors from both drivers and pedestrians.

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keyjan t1_j2fnpox wrote

Couple years ago, a neighbor of mine out here in the burbs was crossing the Post Office driveway. A driver pulled up to the stop sign, they both made eye contact, my neighbor took a couple steps out into the driveway and the driver ran her over anyway.

(In the “Convenient Cop” vein, the driver behind the striking vehicle was an off duty cop. Neighbor (70 yo!) got a broken shoulder and hip, but fortunately recovered nicely.)

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