Excerptcize

One of the more depressing aspects of my Monday morning commute is the frequency with which there is going to be some sad news relayed on the 8 o’clock news from over the weekend.  This Monday was no exception as there were 7 separate incidents involving collisions with pedestrians. A 77 year old man was killed in one of these.  Not a great kickoff to National Safe Driving Week.

What was most depressing about this particular report was some of the information that was said to have come from the police.  The causes that were cited in these ‘accidents’ were: weather conditions, pedestrians dark clothing and jaywalking.  Apparently inattentive driving does not factor in.  In Vancouver, weather conditions means that it’s raining; if the road is wet what can the driver do?  Change how they drive?  A novel idea.

The automobile is such an ingrained part of our lives that drivers are barely cognizant that they are controlling a machine weighing several tonnes.  The driver holds others safety in their own hands, not just their own.  This is such a basic notion, yet when I read a published opinion piece a few weeks back whining about BC’s upcoming ban on cell phone use while driving (hands free models will still be allowed) the author was suggesting they should be charged higher insurance premiums and be allowed to keep using their cell phone as they do now.  Clearly there are those not aware that others safety is incumbent on their responsible operation of a vehicle.  Most drivers seem to be rather perturbed with any alteration to their actions that is requested of them; driving how you like is almost viewed as a right.

Despite this, pedestrians who jaywalk are endangering themselves and potentially others.  For whatever reason though, I have a hard time believing this septagenarian and his wife (also injured) were trying to run across the street when they should not have been.

It was nice to read this morning that I was not the only one thinking that pedestrians do not place high enough, or at all, on any given cities priorities.  Bev Ballantyne, co-founder of Putting Pedestrians First, is pushing for a pedestrian task force in Vancouver.  A commitee of this type was nearly approved in 2000, but that morphed into a ‘sidewalk taskforce.’  It has been mostly concerned with dog leash infractions.  This is an issue that effects every resident of the city; we are not all drivers, but we do all transport ourselves through the streets in one fashion or another (be it walking, wheelchair, Segway or some other mode.)  More attention on driver and pedestrian interactions is most welcome.

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