Is Jaywalking safer than crossing at the intersection?

[fuji]

Most pedestrians are killed at an intersection. Sometimes the pedestrian is at fault, sometimes the driver is. Turning vehicles are often involved, or sometimes a vehicle running a red light.

Cross in the middle of the street and you have far fewer variables: There are cars going in only two directions moving in a predictable line, you can see all of them from a distance, and they can see you too.

It seems to me it is actually safer to jaywalk.

 

[blackrock13]

Most pedestrians are killed at an intersection. Sometimes the pedestrian is at fault, sometimes the driver is. Turning vehicles are often involved, or sometimes a vehicle running a red light.

Cross in the middle of the street and you have far fewer variables: There are cars going in only two directions moving in a predictable line, you can see all of them from a distance, and they can see you too.

It seems to me it is actually safer to jaywalk.

Sorry fuji, it's simply a case of way more people crossing at intersections than jaywalking. I doubt there's any figures to back this up, but just go downtown and watch/ count the people on Yonge street over the lunch hour and you'll get the idea. It's no big mystery.

 

[fuji]

I don't know of any statistics that convincingly show that jaywalking is safer, but nor do I know of any that show crossing at the corner is safer either.

 

[blackrock13]

I don't know if any statistics that convincingly show that jaywalking is safer, but nor do I know if any statistics that indicate crossing at the corner is safer.

You probably right on both counts. Like I said take a trip downtown grab a coffee and a sandwich and count do some math and come up with your own facts.

 

[Brill]

Jaywalking is safer if you look at stats because the person is more cautious, looking both ways and not taking it for granted that cars will yield. At an intersection or crosswalk, people too often assume it's safe just because they have the right-of-way. As well, people are making right turns on red lights often without seeing pedestrians step off the curb.

 

[fuji]

Very many people jaywalk on King street between York and Bay streets, walking between the office towers on either side. However we would need aggregate accident statistics combined with an estimate of the number of times people engage in either behavior to run a regression and come up with a conclusion--it isn't something that could be done one day with a coffee and a sandwich.

In the absence of such statistics it comes down to reasoning about it, and it seems much safer to me.

A pedestrian at a corner has to worry about a very large number of vehicles including many that are unseen, and unpredictable. The situation is much simpler in the middle of the road. If there is a median in place, such as on Front street at Union station, then the pedestrian has to worry about only one direction and it becomes even safer.

It probably depends on the number of lanes--I imagine it's dangerous to jaywalk across University avenue with its four lanes moving at high speed, but relatively safe to jaywalk on Queen with two slow moving lanes.

 

[blackrock13]

Jaywalking is safer if you look at stats because the person is more cautious, looking both ways and not taking it for granted that cars will yield. At an intersection or crosswalk, people too often assume it's safe just because they have the right-of-way. As well, people are making right turns on red lights often without seeing pedestrians step off the curb.

Brill, you second point is valid, but your first is full of assumptions. intersection s are better lit, the traffic as a whole is traveling slower, basically stop and go whether you're turning yuorself, dealing with traffic lights, or vehicles turning left. The guy that crosses mid block is going against all this. The worst are the old folks who think they have a right to take the shortest route to their destination, cane in hand. The guy I don't get is the one who jay walks 15 ft from the traffic light.

 

[blackrock13]

Very many people jaywalk on King street between York and Bay streets, walking between the office towers on either side. However we would need aggregate accident statistics combined with an estimate of the number of times people engage in either behavior to run a regression and come up with a conclusion--it isn't something that could be done one day with a coffee and a sandwich.

In the absence of such statistics it comes down to reasoning about it, and it seems much safer to me.

A pedestrian at a corner has to worry about a very large number of vehicles including many that are unseen, and unpredictable. The situation is much simpler in the middle of the road. If there is a median in place, such as on Front street at Union station, then the pedestrian has to worry about only one direction and it becomes even safer.

It probably depends on the number of lanes--I imagine it's dangerous to jaywalk across University avenue with its four lanes moving at high speed, but relatively safe to jaywalk on Queen with two slow moving lanes.

Why did you have to bring common sense into this discussion? That just puts it in another arena all together.

Go downtown pick a spot, pick three spot at different times of day and start counting. Come back and present your findings.

 

[fuji]

The guy I don't get is the one who jay walks 15 ft from the traffic light.

I do this all the time, in a specific circumstance: When the light is currently my way but will change against me by the time I walk to the intersection I jaywalk. It's very safe, all the cross traffic is stopped at the light, none of the vehicles are moving.

If i were to walk to the light I'd have to wait a full cycle before I could cross so in this case it's very safe to jaywalk and a big inconvenience to walk further to the light and then have to wait.

If I have time to walk to the light and it's going to be in my favour when I get there then I wouldn't.

 

[Brill]

Downtown is far safer for jaywalking, cars are slower and everyone is on their toes.
The problem is in the suburbs where the speeds are higher. This is also where jaywalking is often done because it's so far to the next intersection, many people won't walk 1/2 kilometer out of their way just to cross a street.

 

[Aardvark154]

Most pedestrians are killed at an intersection. Sometimes the pedestrian is at fault, sometimes the driver is. Turning vehicles are often involved, or sometimes a vehicle running a red light.

Cross in the middle of the street and you have far fewer variables: There are cars going in only two directions moving in a predictable line, you can see all of them from a distance, and they can see you too.

It seems to me it is actually safer to jaywalk.

Where do you come up with these ideas?! Under this logic perhaps the safest place to cross is the 401 after all all the traffic is traveling in only two directions and moving in a predictable line..

 

[fuji]

Where do you come up with these ideas?! Under this logic perhaps the safest place to cross is the 401 after all all the traffic is traveling in only two directions and moving in a predictable line..

The traffic on the 401 is moving at high speed. Duh?

 

[Thunderballs]

How many times have you seen a jaywalker stuck in the middle of the road with traffic now zooming all around him because he misjudged the speed on the traffic coming in the opposite direction on the other side of the road. He makes it across halfway safely and then gets stuck in the middle waiting for the traffic to clear. This is safer than an intersection?

 

[Tangwhich]

I agree with Brill that people are probably more cautious because they are jay walking. I think that in general pedestrians do not pay enough attention to traffic and I often see people walking dangerously and without thought. While I agree that the police should clamp down on drivers not obeying the law they should equally do the same for pedestrians.
In Britain (perhaps the rest of Europe?) cars generally are considered to have the right of way unless there are "walk" signs and those that do not heed the rules will probably regret it. Despite the laws being more pedestrian friendly here, people should be a little more aware and responsible about how they walk around.

 

[WhaWhaWha]

If you're cautious, courteous, patient, and pay attention to approaching traffic without challenging the drivers, then jaywalking is safe. Most jaywalkers handle themselves like Mister Magoo and endanger themselves and the drivers.

 

[fuji]

Despite the laws being more pedestrian friendly here, people should be a little more aware and responsible about how they walk around.

I think on downtown pedestrian heavy streets we should reduce speeds to 30km and put a crosswalk in the middle of every street.

 

[Tangwhich]

I think on downtown pedestrian heavy streets we should reduce speeds to 30km and put a crosswalk in the middle of every street.

I would support something like this, but only if those who cross where it is not allowed be heavily penalized. I dislike bad drivers as much as anyone, but bad pedestrians are far worse IMO (and before you ask, I walk a lot!)

 

[fuji]

Bad drivers put other people's lives in danger, unlike bad pedestrians.

 

[Tangwhich]

That's not true. What if you were to swerve to avoid a moron pedestrian then take out a bunch of other innocent people? Bad pedestrian are dangerous, not as much so and often to themselves but without question dangerous. Do they ever get prosecuted/ticketed for it? Maybe in the US, but not here.

 

[blackrock13]

Bad drivers put other people's lives in danger, unlike bad pedestrians.

The next time I have to slam on my brake because some nit wit darts out from between cars and the driver behind me comes that close to giving me a personal plate, I'll remember what you said.