As a lifelong pedestrian, (I don't have nor intend to get my driver's license) I strive to always be aware of my surroundings, especially when crossing the road. While drivers are required to stop at marked crosswalks when a pedestrian has indicated the i
I did look this up — you can find it in Chapter 8 of the Driver's Handbook provided by Alberta Transportation. At any rate, I realize that in an argument between me and a vehicle, the vehicle will win whether I am in a crosswalk or not. I will wait for the drivers with tunnel vision to pass through the crosswalk, pretending they can't see me. I will wait for the drivers on their cellphones who are probably not as aware of the road as I am.
It frustrates me, but as I tell my kids it's better to take a few minutes and wait than to be in an accident. What infuriates me is the apparent lack of respect that some drivers seem to have for pedestrians. It makes me angry when I am obeying the laws of the road as they apply to pedestrians, yet while I am crossing in a marked crosswalk, some drivers see no reason to stop at all while I am in the crosswalk.
In the last two days I have seen this happen at least twice. Yesterday while out for a short walk with my family, a motorist sped by my son once he was just past the vehicle, an unsafe move because as we all know kids can be unpredictable and there is always the chance they may dart back in front of the vehicle they just passed. Today while out with two of my children and two children I babysit, we began crossing when there were no vehicles around, and yet, before we reached the other side, a vehicle speed up and swerved around us. I don't think I need to point out the inherent danger of that action.
Both of these instances occurred while we were in marked crosswalks. There should be give and take in any relationship, but it seems to me that lately the drivers are doing the taking and the pedestrians are doing the giving. How long before a pedestrian gives their life?
Miranda Marcy, St. Albert
