Poll: Walking through a red light

[Llil]

Why wouldn't I cross when there's no cars nearby?
There has to be a limit to cautiousness, and it's not like it's illegal. At least not where I live.

It's not so much about cautiousness for me. "Red light means stop" is the rule, and I don't want to break the rules for no reason. I admit, it sometimes makes me feel a bit stupid just standing next to an empty street waiting fort the light to change, but I do it anyway. I don't break the rule when I'm driving, so I don't break it on foot either.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

Walking across and getting hit by a car can cause the car to crash, which can harm the people in the car. Of course, you'll probably get more hurt, but that's not a good excuse.

That's why you use those "useless" globes in your skull-sockets called EYES to LOOK if there's a car coming or not, rather than putting "blind" faith (if you'll excuse that particular choice of words) in the orders of a fucking traffic-light.

It's also a lot more safe, since if some nutjob decides to suddenly step on the gas far away enough from the trafficlight and speed up to like 180 km/h, the trafficlight won't have the time to register it and you'll be run over like the idiot you are for not using your very own senses and opting for trusting a rather flawed machine to decide the proper course of action.

Breaking rules when there's apparently "no harm done" is still breaking the rules. Besides, you never know if harm will be done after all.

The very reason the rules are there is to provide us with guidelines to insure that no harm is done. However, there are situations when said rules are redundant (as in the situation with a person witha functional set of eyes looking both ways to insure that no cars are coming when he or she is about to cross the road).

If you advocate following "the rules" for the sake of following rules, I'd say that there's something seriously wrong with your critical thinking.

And as for the "you never know"-crap, YES I do in fact KNOW that if im at a street crossing and no cars are around, NO ONE is going to be harmed by my actions if I cross the road even if the light is red.

It's just something that's been bothering me, and it does make me feel slightly superior when I'm the only one who stays to wait for green (for what that's worth).

My guess would be that the primary reason you do it is just that: to gain some sort of morbid sense of superiority out of it. Well guess what, the only one who thinks you are somehow superior is you, no one else...

 

[Hawk of Battle]

Has anyone here ever tried this in Cairo? Shit be CRAZY over there! People just walk out into the street with their hands outstretched, and walk across 4-5 lanes of traffic (note; there are usually only supposed to be 2-3 lanes of traffic, but none of the drivers seem to care).

Most terrifying place to cross a road ever.

 

[GeorgW]

If I'm on foot, I never care about lights. If I can make it across I'll go.

 

[WouldYouKindly]

I grew up in enough of a city to learn that you take your opening when you have it. He who hesitates is left standing on the corner like he's a hooker.

 

[Llil]

That's why you use those "useless" globes in your skull-sockets called EYES to LOOK if there's a car coming or not, rather than putting "blind" faith (if you'll excuse that particular choice of words) in the orders of a fucking traffic-light.

I never said you should blindly trust the traffic lights. Of course you should look around in case someone thinks it's okay not care about other cars and people.

If you advocate following "the rules" for the sake of following rules, I'd say that there's something seriously wrong with your critical thinking.

I'm advocating not breaking the rules when there's no reason to. It's just that "following the rules" and "not breaking the rules" usually mean the same thing.

My guess would be that the primary reason you do it is just that: to gain some sort of morbid sense of superiority out of it. Well guess what, the only one who thinks you are somehow superior is you, no one else...

Maybe. Or maybe I just don't like when people don't do what's been agreed on. And I don't want to be the kind of person I dislike.

Oh, and by the way, you seem angry about this. I hope I haven't offended you. It's so easy to do, it seems.
My apologies.

EDIT: One more thing.

And as for the "you never know"-crap, YES I do in fact KNOW that if im at a street crossing and no cars are around, NO ONE is going to be harmed by my actions if I cross the road even if the light is red.

Then why is driving through red light any different? If you clearly see no-one's coming, then what's the problem?

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

I never do it, because it is so easy to miss a car, then you have a broken pelvis and one hell of a hospital bill. I try to limit my crosswalk usage. Even when I did have a go-ahead/right-of-way (green light, walking man, etc), I still managed to get hit by a car ~8 times in the passed year. Fuck. that. noise. I always try to jaywalk now.

What the fuck? Do you have a target painted on all of your clothing? I just don't even understand how it's possible to be hit by a car that many times in so short a span of time.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

I never press the button, it only slows down the drivers and contributes to pollution. Those cars are just sat there wasting petrol while the light turns green, fuck making people wait and killing the planet while they do it.

 

[Asaliaem]

I cross when it's safe to cross and that's all that matters to me. I prefer to not cross at crosswalks(I still do though when it's the best course) because quite frankly, I think they're more dangerous then jaywalking between two lights. At a light there are 4 different directions cars are coming and people turning on red and people running red. If you jaywalk(and are cautious and actually looking, not just running out because you think you can do anything because you're a pedestrian) between two lights there is generally only two directions cars are coming from and you can see them coming.

But I live in a small city of just a little over 100,000 people.

 

[runnernda]

I still follow what I was taught at the age of three. Look left, then right, then left again. If no cars are coming, I cross.

It's not breaking the rules when you're on foot, since there are no rules about crossing against the lights as a pedestrian. In most places, I know cyclists are supposed to follow traffic laws (not that they do...), but not pedestrians.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Then why is driving through red light any different? If you clearly see no-one's coming, then what's the problem?

There's a very BIG difference between what you can see and hear standing on the sidewalk and sitting in a car.

 

[Jodah]

Walking absolutely. Driving, not so much.

 

[Jonluw]

Why wouldn't I cross when there's no cars nearby?
There has to be a limit to cautiousness, and it's not like it's illegal. At least not where I live.

It's not so much about cautiousness for me. "Red light means stop" is the rule, and I don't want to break the rules for no reason. I admit, it sometimes makes me feel a bit stupid just standing next to an empty street waiting fort the light to change, but I do it anyway. I don't break the rule when I'm driving, so I don't break it on foot either.

I don't know what the law says in Finland; but in Norway, Sweden and the UK "Red light means stop" is not the rule at all.

 

[Jordi]

I'll walk if there are no cars and no cops that I can see. I often see people walking when cars are standing still, waiting for their traffic lights to turn green. Since the cars aren't moving yet, there isn't much danger of getting run over, but I think it is a dick move to take advantage of this and hinder the people/cars who have actually been waiting for their turn.

 

[Lukeje]

Of course. Pedestrian crossings are just a recommendation after all.

 

[Berithil]

I only do it if im in a hurry. Usually I will wait for a green light to cross. I kinda do the same with j walking (even though its ilegal) if im in a hurry and i can cross the road without causing any hinderance to passing cars, I'll go for it

 

[sune-ku]

This debate really only applies in America (or any other country with J-walking laws). Here (England) and most places I know, it's up to you to judge when its safe to cross. Pedestrian crossings are more to help you cross busy roads than to tell you when.

 

[ZeroMachine]

That's a law?

 

[Whispering Cynic]

I don't care about lights when I'm on foot. If there is a safe opening that'll allow me to get across without endangering anyone I take it.

 

[Llil]

It looks like I'm asking a "stupid question". That it's somehow obvious that traffic rules don't apply to pedestrians. I don't get it...

It's not breaking the rules when you're on foot, since there are no rules about crossing against the lights as a pedestrian. In most places, I know cyclists are supposed to follow traffic laws (not that they do...), but not pedestrians.

I don't know what the law says in Finland; but in Norway, Sweden and the UK "Red light means stop" is not the rule at all.

In Finland you can get fined for it. I've never seen it happen though, and the fine's pretty small anyway, so I guess the police just don't bother. But it's still not something you should do.