What Was She Thinking?
Sixty-some years ago two post-war, baby-boom parents began teaching their son about looking both ways before crossing a road, and then proceeding only if it was safe. Since they did not live in a city...
Forum Discussion
We've had pedestrian right of way laws here for a couple of decades now. It seems your laws are pretty similar to ours. The law doesn't give pedestrians unabated rights to proceed into the crosswalk at anytime. According to your NY law:
Section 1151. Pedestrians' right of way in crosswalks
(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield.
So they can't just jump out at you and if they do it's their own fault in the end. So I'm with you on that side. On the flip side, you really you should've made an attempt to yield for your own sake. When pedestrians make bad judgement calls, in our litigious society, you end up with all of the grief even if you are victorious in the end. If you can't make a panic stop with your combo at 30 mph then I would seriously reevaluate your braking capabilities. When driving in low speed communities, you never know what will jump out in front of you from any direction. God forbid its a kid playing.
Section 1151. Pedestrians' right of way in crosswalks
(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield.
So they can't just jump out at you and if they do it's their own fault in the end. So I'm with you on that side. On the flip side, you really you should've made an attempt to yield for your own sake. When pedestrians make bad judgement calls, in our litigious society, you end up with all of the grief even if you are victorious in the end. If you can't make a panic stop with your combo at 30 mph then I would seriously reevaluate your braking capabilities. When driving in low speed communities, you never know what will jump out in front of you from any direction. God forbid its a kid playing.
