New measure seeks to repeal Maine pedestrian crossing law (hold muh Beeeah alert)

Bangor Daily News (Registration Required) ^ | 1/21/2003 | Glenn Adams

[ozone1]

Mow em down if they get in the way.

[Thinkin' Gal]

"Talk to anybody on the street, and they'll tell you they've driven down the road and seen people just go, without regard to 4,000 pounds of steel coming along," said O'Neil.

That's why...

there are particular problem areas, such as [Maine Street] Brunswick

Between the street parking and the many crosswalks and side streets, it's difficult to tell if the guy in the next lane is slowing down to make a turn, grab a parking space, or if a pedestrian about to pop out in front of you. I think these pedestrians are liberals... never mind personal responsibility or common sense, just pass a law. Darwin scores big.

I haven't been through there in years.

[ozone1]

"In some cases, walkers who have a false sense of security under Maine's law step right into traffic, oblivious to whether a car or truck is coming, he said. "

But the government is supposed to protect me!!!!

[szweig]

A 200 pound pedestrian can stop a lot quicker and easier than a 3000 pound automobile. I wish that Kalifornia would adopt such a law. The arrogance and dangerosity (?) of these quick-steppers is astonishing...SSZ

[NativeNewYorker]

In the past few years, I've noticed many cases of "urban youths" deliberately, defiantly, walking into moving traffic, and actually glaring at drivers, defying them to hit the jay-walker. I imagine someone somewhere must step in front of the wrong guy....

[Cboldt]

You nailed it. I have an office in Brunswick, I visit as-needed, pedestrian/vehicle protocol is out of whack.

[Thinkin' Gal]

I think they should deport these wayward pedestrians to Italy. One foot off the curb, and they'll be headed toward the morgue. Stupid pedestrians = dead pedestrians. Repeat offenders aren't much of a problem, lol.

[DWSUWF]

".... I think these pedestrians are liberals... never mind personal responsibility or common sense, just pass a law. Darwin scores big..."

When I was a kid, even the village idiots knew better than to cross the street without looking both ways and waiting for traffic to clear.

Now people wander into the street without so much as a glance.

I've seen these morons walking in the street even in residential areas where sidewalks are provided.

Some are probably fishing for a personal injury lawsuit, granted, but the vast majority of them are simply native-born halfwits or turd worlders with that trademark indolent, mindless 'village' mentality they have.

[banjo joe]

In the past few years, I've noticed many cases of "urban youths" deliberately, defiantly, walking into moving traffic, and actually glaring at drivers, defying them to hit the jay-walker. I imagine someone somewhere must step in front of the wrong guy....

Yap, seen that a-plenty. Conversely, there's a game played down South called "cross walk? what's a crosswalk". Kinda ironic when you see Female 1 not even slow for Female 2 with baby in Food World crosswalk.

[banjo joe]

Now people wander into the street without so much as a glance.

I've seen dogs look both ways before venturing out. No lie.

[Thinkin' Gal]

I've seen these morons...

See, they are liberals. They have absolutely no concept that actions have consequences. No clue at all. They'll even appear from behind buildings or trucks, so the drivers can't even see these idiots approaching the street. Mr. Magoo has better sense.

[eno_]

Ever been to Rome? There is no freakin' way to cross the street other than to just go and have faith the traffic will part around you. It becomes a kind of enjoyable experience, like fire-walking.

It only looks chaotic and deadly. The Romans actually don't drive half as fast as the Viennese, who think Germanic precision means they can driver doorhandle-to-doorhandle at 100kph on city streets.

[DWSUWF]

"...I've seen dogs look both ways before venturing out. No lie..."

I believe you.

But the average dog has more functional intelligence than the morons that I was referring to...

It's only natural that these canines manage to display superior behavior.

[NativeNewYorker]

There's a Darwin angle here.

One hundred eighty pounds of mostly water and protoplasm vs. more than a ton of steel. I know which way to bet on this one.

[metesky]

I'm tellin' ya, half the pedestrians in Bangor would be DOA in any major city on the east coast. They brazenly walk in front of oncoming traffic without looking in either direction and think they're in some magic protective zone.

Painted marks on the street may work on cattle, but stopping a 4,000 lb vehicle on a dime...

[NativeNewYorker]

Yes, I've been to Rome. But they're ITALIAN. :)

Seriously, the phenomenon I described is "new" as of the last 10 years or so. I'd call it "attitude walking" as opposed to "jay walking".

[drlevy88]

just pass a law

No, they're saying repeal a law. More responsibility for the walkers, not less. What that would mean is that walkers could only legally walk across the intersection when the traffic light is with them. Not any old time they please.

[ozone1]

You think the pedestrians are bad, try to enter a rotary around here. They are taught in drivers ed to treat it like an intersection.

They have absolutely no understanding of the concept of "merge".

[Thinkin' Gal]

? I was referring to the law that this guy wants to repeal. These pedestrians think that having the right-of-way means that they can jump in front of cars. Safe bet they are Baldacci or Green party voters.

[E.Allen]

You're right about Brunswick, Wiscasset is bad too. I drive through once a year on way to Boothbay. I'm from another state, as is probably 25% of the traffic (It's where I-95 connects to Us Rt 1, the primary coastal route in Maine).

I can't believe the pedestrians there, they presume all the out-of-state drivers are familiar with the local quirks after getting of the interstate a couple miles ago.

Are there many accidents there?