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From: Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: House arrest after killing cyclist in hit and run.
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2025 22:05:55 -0500
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On 2/28/2025 8:09 PM, AMuzi wrote:
> On 2/28/2025 5:40 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
>>> On 2/28/2025 3:18 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
>>>>
>>>> In my view, a person who kills someone with their car should never, 
>>>> ever be allowed to drive again.
>>>>
>> First, let's acknowledge that rule will never be implemented in the 
>> U.S. But if it were, driver caution would increase many times over.
>>
>> After the first few "dumbshit walks in front of car" episodes actually 
>> resulted in "no more driving" and were publicized, motorists might 
>> begin slowing to non-fatal speeds when pedestrians (or bicyclists) are 
>> within walk-in- front range.
>>
>> As I've said here before, if an overhead crane operator killed someone 
>> in a factory, I think they'd never be allowed to operate the crane 
>> again, no matter what their excuse.
>>
>> Humans have given up far more than we should have to motordom. Streets 
>> and roads were once the domain of pedestrians, of kids playing, of 
>> people interacting. Turning them entirely over to motorists was a 
>> deliberate campaign goal of the car manufacturers.
>>
>> https://marker.medium.com/the-invention-of-jaywalking- afd48f994c05
>>
>>
> 
> I (naively?) assumed you meant 'by negligence or malice' and I was happy 
> to agree with that.
> 
> But I can't agree with you here.  Extend that argument and we'll charge 
> train operators with murder when jerkoffs drive around the gate.  Or 
> auto drivers who hit red light running cyclists for that matter.

Given the legal system of the United States, I'd assume that if such a 
law were implemented, there would be gaggles of lawyers rushing to any 
accused motorist to defend his right to run down anyone who impeded his 
speed.

So think of my position as an initial step in negotiations. Let it apply 
in, say, residential areas, where kids should be able to play in 
streets. Or in pedestrian heavy business districts.

But as we all know, the present situation is closest to "I didn't see 
him!" or "He came out of nowhere!" followed by at most a slap on the 
wrist. And any imperfection in the pedestrian's behavior is a coupon for 
no motorist penalty at all.

Locally, about six months ago we had a young, well loved, well respected 
music teacher, church organist killed by a car when walking across a 
street. About a week ago, another young man was killed crossing the 
plaza-infested five lane at 6 AM. Details on the first are sketchy to me 
- it sounds like he was in a legal crosswalk - but cops said the latter 
was "not crossing in a designated crosswalk" so the motorist is off 
completely free. And in a different city, a young woman I know well was 
knocked to the ground and injured while crossing in a crosswalk with a 
green "walk" signal.

(BTW, Ohio law has a virtual crosswalk at any intersection, whether it's 
marked or not. Still, expecting pedestrians to walk an extra half mile 
to avoid being called a "jaywalker" seems unfair to me.)

I'd like a law that makes motorists think "Holy shit, there's a 
pedestrian. I'd better be _really_ careful."

-- 
- Frank Krygowski