David HoInstead of fixing the gun problem, we have active shooter drills.
Instead of fixing infrastructure and car bloat, we have this 👇.
artisanroxthis is from Pennsylvania (PennDOT.gov) and honestly here with communities and nearby towns spread so far apart we have no choice but to drive if we don't want to live like raccoons and bears.
Absolving pedestrians of *all* awareness responsibility is a horribly bad move that's going to result in more deaths in areas where people *have to* drive.
Public trans will not solve this, they have to drive, too!
Nelson@artisanrox We know what it takes to prevent traffic deaths, and much like the COVID pandemic, the answer is not "individual responsibility" and victim blaming. It takes effort on a societal level. Fortunately, even in car-addicted America, we have successful examples to point to:
https://www.curbed.com/2022/06/hoboken-traffic-deaths-none-vision-zero-streets.html
Placing the blame on pedestrians means accepting the deaths of pets, children, and wildlife that are not capable of that sort of responsibility.
It's a case by case basis tho. Of course I'm not blanket blaming peds, just like you can't blanket blame auto users. I can't be blamed as a driver for actions that encourage peopke to just...not pay attention.
We just had a death here of someone walking right out right between two cars, never looked, never even thought about it. The driver CANNOT possibly be to blame. Vehicles aren't new or unexpected on major travel routes.
Peds HAVE to retain some responsibility.
1/2
@artisanrox Road design and other societal decisions are the main issue. Think systems. Why can we have speed limiters in electric bikes and scooters, but not cars? Why are trucks with terrible visibility street legal? While drivers in control of a two-ton killing machine have more responsibility than people they kill, ultimately any actual reduction in deaths means redesigning transportation and the built environment.
Just like defeating COVID requires more than individual masking decisions.
This is addressed in 2/2. I don't disagree, but when you have communities that just don't care and also people encouraging others to NOT pay attention at all as a ped we WILL have these accidents.
Same with COVID.
Work toward zero road deaths but PLEASE, please, stop discouraging people from doing the utter kindergarten basics, like paying attention while crossing a road.
@artisanrox I'm saying there will always be people who are not capable of the kindergarten basics, at least not consistently, and they still deserve to live.
Just like babies can't wear N95 masks, and anything that makes society unsafe for them also means parents are trapped as well.
And I don't disagree.
But drivers in communities that do not care enough to spend the money to protect peds shouldn't be faulted if someone just...walks in front of them.
Without social investment of safe sidewalks, I cannot accept responsibility if you cannot pay basic attention to your surroundings and I am driving normally and responsibly.