Discussions

The top of Page A2 in the Brandon Sun this morning is the result of impatient and disrespectful drivers in Brandon.  
 
In the past couple of months, I have felt unsafe crossing the street more than a handful of times. I look both ways before crossing and make eye contact with the drivers. Some proceed to cross the intersection (4-way stop) even while I stand at the corner waiting for a safe time to cross. Once I was not even halfway across the street when a taxi proceeded across the intersection, and no over-exaggeration here... he was a couple feet away from my body.  
 
With this being said, below are the laws applicable to all pedestrians and drivers:  
 
Right-of-way of pedestrian  
139(1) Subject to section 140, where traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation when a pedestrian is crossing a highway within a crosswalk, and the pedestrian is upon the half of the highway upon which a vehicle is travelling, or he is approaching from the other half of the highway and is so close that he is in danger, the driver of the vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to the pedestrian.  
 
Where pedestrians yield right-of-way  
140(1) When a pedestrian is crossing a roadway at a point other than within a crosswalk, he shall yield the right of way to a driver.  
 
Pedestrian corridor, duties of driver  
141(1) Subject to subsection (2), where  
(a) a pedestrian is at  
(i) the kerb or edge of a roadway, or  
(ii) a place of safety,  
that is adjacent to a pedestrian corridor that lies across a roadway upon which a vehicle is approaching so closely to the pedestrian corridor as to endanger the pedestrian if he were to enter it: and  
(b) the pedestrian  
(i) is intending to cross the roadway in the pedestrian corridor, and  
(ii) is giving notice of his intention by extending his hand and arm at full length in such a manner to indicate clearly the direction in which he intends to cross,  
the driver of the vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to the pedestrian by slowing down or stopping if necessary.  
 
Also, here's a little snippet taken from Page 67 of the MPI Driver's Handbook.  
 
Please be patient and yield to pedestrians for everyone's safety and well-being.

Pedestrian's need to make sure that they have eye contact with the drivers before they cross the street. Accidents can easily be prevented if both the driver and pedestrian pay attention to each other and the pedestrian doesn't just assume that the vehicle is going to let them cross or stop because they may have the right of way.  
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-05-21 11:09:44