Dear Editor,
I refer to the recent headline bleating about crossings. Something about motorists needing to be aware of them. Problem is when a person goes near a designated crossing there is an immediate assumption of right of way. A 40 tonne truck can’t stop quickly, a 2 tonne car takes time, but people forget the old rule ‘look right, look left, look right again, then lookout – what’s about’
Too many pedestrians, of all ages, amble about like Brown’s cows straight onto pedestrian crossings regardless of traffic, sometimes children are even seen to be running onto a crossing. A car travelling at 50kph has next to no chance of addressing pedestrian stupidity. A truck has less. Get rid of these crossings altogether is my suggestion.
We’d be better off if all such facilities were removed so people could learn responsibility for their action.
Same goes for ‘mobility aided’ people. Driving along pedestrian footpaths as if they were Brabham, crossing roads at random. Pedestrians are at risk, problem is mobility aids don’t come speed limited. Pedestrians have a 4kph average. Step out of a shop and be done over by a high speed mobility aided person of delayed reflex, who’s to blame, who’s responsible for the injury, when there is no appropriate third party insurance?
Negligence is the failure to act to prevent foreseeable harm. Pedestrians have a contributory responsibility for their own safety, and if school students must cross the road in company the supervising person, be it a teacher or other, must demonstrate due diligence.
I guess I’ll be castigated for my opinion, but I’m sure I’m not alone with my thoughts.
Stephen Tamplin