Why U.S. streets are becoming deadlier for pedestrians

[anothernewbbaccount]

@robertmckenna

@Johnny_Ruff

traffic cameras got people slamming on the brakes

How on earth is stopping at red lights killing people?

Those two things (cameras and red lights) are not the same. Traffic cameras (speed cameras) are possibly sufficiently new and rare in the US that people see them, realise they are speeding and slam on their brakes, though how this causes pedestrian injuries is a moot point. Traffic lights are a long-standing bit of infrastructure well understood by drivers.

[robertmckenna]

@anothernewbbaccount

Those two things (cameras and red lights) are not the same.

The poster referred to speed cameras separately later in the post so, from context I had inferred that camera based enforcement of the law at junctions was killing people in the same way that speed cameras were (that is not at all of course except in motorist fantasy world).

[anothernewbbaccount]

Ah - I inferred the poster was using the terms interchangeably.

[OhHai]

@Johnny_Ruff

I think it’s a multitude of things, phones, traffic cameras, insurance devices, All these things play apart, traffic cameras got people slamming on the brakes, so do the insurance device, you got people impede traffic,going too slow

Obviously, it’s driving at dangerously moderate speeds that is killing pedestrians.

[Bonivus_elderheart]

@flyingvole

Headlights on newer cars are blinding, especially when smaller cars are faced with SUV headlights. AFAIK other nations have much better regulations on headlights, whereas in the USA our headlights have gotten worse and worse over the past decade or two.

the newer trucks have the headlights up higher, and they are also a cooler bluish color which causes them to appear to be brighter at night.

My 2011 tundra has a towing package on it; one of the features I’ve used on it is the the ability to lower the headlights (obstinately to accommodate the tongue weight of the trailer or whatever’s in the cargo bed) so I’m not blinding the poor person who’s in a honda accord in front of me.

I’ve been blinded by newer trucks at night with their friggen blue-white LEDs that are throwing nearly a million candlepower forward, which turns into a major hazard and problem.

@flyingvole

AFAIK other nations have much better regulations on headlights, whereas in the USA our headlights have gotten worse and worse over the past decade or two.

Yes, we do need to revise the regulations on that, but the outcry that will raise… ::shudders::

Also, a PSA: If you are driving at night, and a driver either flicks their brights at you (or turns their lights off then back on). CHECK YOUR OWN LIGHTS- You might have your brights on accidently (the US standard dash indicator is a blue headlamp icon) or one or more of your lights are out and should be checked before you get tagged by a cop.

(and finally, if you know you have a headlight out, for the love of all you hold dear DO NOT TURN YOUR BRIGHTS ON to compensate for it- It’s OK to have the ol’ One Eye Jack going until you can get to a part store to get the bulb replaced. (unless you have an LED module that costs several thousand bucks to replace coughFordwheeze))

[smulder]

@robertmckenna

stopping at red lights killing people

… surely the healthiest thing for pedestrians is for motorists to speed and run red lights

[smulder]

@flyingvole

have a look at the comments

[Otherbrother]

@frauenfelder

A surprising factor is the prevalence of automatic transmission vehicles in the U.S. Unlike Europe, where manual transmission is more common, in the U.S., only about one percent of cars have a stick shift.

I’m having trouble finding clear numbers on this. No doubt that manual transmissions are a bit more common there, but I’m seeing numbers reported that over 80% of European cars are sold with manual transmissions and reports that over 20% of all new cars there are electric, which seems to be at odds with the other number.

[AnthonyC]

It’s true. I drive a GMC Sierra 2500 and I hate it. People always ask me if I’m a truck guy now, and I immediately respond that I miss my Prius. The visibility on all sides is terrible. But for some use cases they’re the only option that works. I wish people with those use cases were the only people that chose them.

[KathyPartdeux]

Not tailgating might help.

[Johnny_Ruff]

I have been driving 45 years in New York, I’ve seen people driving 25 mph in New York City but unsure that they was doing the speed limit slam on the brakes to slow down and the car behind them trying to avoid hitting them ran on the sidewalk and hit the schoolgirl who fought is that, and cab drivers all the worse they could be in the middle lane and come all the way over and slam on the brakes just to pick up a $5 fare, you see it every other week on the news in New York City

[robertmckenna]

If you hit someone when they stop, even emergency stop, from behind it is your fault. If you instead go and kill a schoolgirl rather than mess the paint job on your car it’s your fault and you are a total arse hole to boot.

[KathyPartdeux]

[Johnny_Ruff]

By the way I never said red light cameras I said speed cameras which New York City has a lot of it helps but with a lot of these new drivers it does not do them any good they need to go for a better course

[KathyPartdeux]

Yeah - but if you can make it there- you can make it anywhere.

[Mindysan33]

Do you mind if I ask why you bought it, given all that? Did you need a pick up truck and this was the only real option (as they’re all like this now)?

[smulder]

@Johnny_Ruff

the car behind them trying to avoid hitting them ran on the sidewalk and hit the schoolgirl who fought is that

… are you trying to write “Whose fault is that?”

and is it really not obvious whose fault it is

[OhHai]

Well, when you’re screaming along at 25 mph and someone in front of you brakes suddenly…

[asdadsas]

No one looks before they cross the road any more.

[smulder]

… and it’s not like drivers should know there are pedestrians on sidewalks in New York City