Punishment for pedestrian - fair?

[Schnellmann]

Saw this in my local Zurich newspaper this morning.

http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/zuerich/stadt/Fussgaen...

For non-German speakers, basically a pedestrian ran across some traffic lights when they were red. Caused a motorcyclist (who was correctly going through the lights which were green for him) to crash, resulting in a serious ankle injury for the motorcyclist and damage to his bike.

In the Swiss courts the pedestrian has been fined for causing the crash and ordered to pay the motorcyclist compensation.

I think that is fair but I couldn't imagine a court in the UK finding in favour of a motorcyclist over a pedestrian. Any thoughts?

[williamp]

cant see it either. If yoyu are in charge of a motorised vehicle, of a certain weight and capable of a certain speed, you need the rewuired amount of training. And that includes the anticpation that a pedestrian might do something unusual

You cannot expect a pedestran to have a level of training. Whilst there is a notion of training- green cross code etc, not eveyrone has this, and not ev ery pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions

[Pints]

Far too many pedestrians seem to have an arrogant attitude when using the road and will saunter across in their own bloody time with little regard for those of us who actually pay road tax.

Radio 4's comedy on Tuesday had a woman who, in all seriousness, was suggesting all residential roads should be made one-way (as well as a host of other measures) so that they could be used by her and her offspring to frolick merrily. Roads are no place for cars was her general view.

Why do we not have jaywalking laws to prevent this sort of thing?

[vonhosen]

Pints said:

Far too many pedestrians seem to have an arrogant attitude when using the road and will saunter across in their own bloody time with little regard for those of us who actually pay road tax.

Radio 4's comedy on Tuesday had a woman who, in all seriousness, was suggesting all residential roads should be made one-way (as well as a host of other measures) so that they could be used by her and her offspring to frolick merrily. Roads are no place for cars was her general view.

Why do we not have jaywalking laws to prevent this sort of thing?

They don't have that attitude just as pedestrians, those same people will display that arrogance as drivers. It's in the people.

[heebeegeetee]

Pints said:

Far too many pedestrians seem to have an arrogant attitude when using the road and will saunter across in their own bloody time with little regard for those of us who actually pay road tax.

Radio 4's comedy on Tuesday had a woman who, in all seriousness, was suggesting all residential roads should be made one-way (as well as a host of other measures) so that they could be used by her and her offspring to frolick merrily. Roads are no place for cars was her general view.

Why do we not have jaywalking laws to prevent this sort of thing?

(Ok, I'm gonna do it )

None of us pay road tax, there is no such thing, it does not exist and you've never paid a penny of it in your life.

(There. )

[Dave Hedgehog]

i almost ploughed into about 20 of them yesterday at lewisham

their light was red but there was a slight gap between me and the car infront caused by a stopped bus 100 yards up the road but i am doing mid 20s

lead wker at the lights is listening to his ipod and texting and just walks out infront of me!!!

all the other wkers see him leave and just followed him without looking ....

i missed them by inches



the amount of suicidal pedestrians and cyclists blatantly ignoring the highway code is becoming ridiculous

[sinizter]

williamp said:

You cannot expect a pedestran to have a level of training. Whilst there is a notion of training- green cross code etc, not eveyrone has this, and not ev ery pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions

You don't have a pedestrian to know how to cross the road safely or be responsible for their actions ? Maybe the state should be responsible for their actions ? Maybe an angel will be floating around to supervise crossings ?

Then they should be locked up at home or supervised by someone responsible, not putting motorists at risk.

If they just run across the road without looking either way, they deserve to run over repeatedly. With no recourse on the motorist who did so.

I was taught to look both ways and not run across roads by the time I could walk. As should everyone else.

[freedman]

williamp said:

and not every pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions

What utter nonsense

[Smiler.]

Riding in London yesterday, I rounded a bend to see a young girl, headphones in, stride across the road without looking.

Luckily I was able to slow on the bend (the road surface being damp) and use the horn in time to alert the gormless idiot little Jocasta to her oversight.

Still, now the motive behind the call to make everywhere a 20 limit makes sense.

[Darkk]

freedman said:

williamp said:

and not every pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions

What utter nonsense

Shocking really!

I have lost the count of "near misses" I have every single day in London, with complete nutters ignoring the lights!

Quoting:
"They all have to be taken outside, and shot in front of their families!"

Even worse, and this had me stopping the car, and gone for a quick chat once, are those stupid fking shadow of mothers that do it, pushing a pram!!!!

Makes me boil beyond belief!

I'm sure that those fking idiots have nowhere to be in such a hurry, that makes them ignore the fking red light in oxford st, during rush hour, pushing a pram while texting!

Complete fkING brainless retards, should be prevented of reproducing!

/rant over...

[williamp]

freedman said:

williamp said:

and not every pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions

What utter nonsense

as a child you never fran into the road, despite you Mum telling you not to?? You've never started to cross the road, then realising you're not going to make it in time (and if you are old or infirm you cannot sprint across)?? God it must be perfect being you. Bet you aim for pedestrians who dont make it in time- that'll learn em, eh??

[BaronVonVTEC]

williamp said:

as a child you never fran into the road, despite you Mum telling you not to?? You've never started to cross the road, then realising you're not going to make it in time (and if you are old or infirm you cannot sprint across)?? God it must be perfect being you. Bet you aim for pedestrians who dont make it in time- that'll learn em, eh??

You are talking bks. We are talking about crossing a road, it's not exactly rocket science is it. Anyone with half a brain can assess whether or not it's safe to cross, the problem is that most people find using their brains a bit too taxing. This country panders to the stupid far too much.

[TheTurbonator]

This is my biggest pet hate when driving in city centres. The amount of people who just walk into the middle of the road with an arrogance of they have right of way is unbelievable. They just look at you as they step out right in front of you and then because people are like sheep about another 20 others follow them. The worst ones are the ones who do it with their kids. I mean what a great thing to teach your kids who will then go and do it when they grow up and they'll blame the driver when they get run over.

Everyday I wish that Jaywalking was a crime in this country just like it is in America. Either that or all the roads should be electrified with pedestrian crossings being the only exception when the green man is on. Crossing where there isn't a crossing or crossing when the red man is on results in
electrification.

[heebeegeetee]

freedman said:

williamp said:

and not every pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions

What utter nonsense

No it's not.

[Robb F]

williamp said:

freedman said:

williamp said:

and not every pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions

What utter nonsense

as a child you never fran into the road, despite you Mum telling you not to?? You've never started to cross the road, then realising you're not going to make it in time (and if you are old or infirm you cannot sprint across)?? God it must be perfect being you. Bet you aim for pedestrians who dont make it in time- that'll learn em, eh??

What are you on about?

Every one is responsible for their own actions. No one else is responsible for them are they?

[redgriff500]

williamp said:

freedman said:

williamp said:

and not every pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions

What utter nonsense

as a child you never fran into the road, despite you Mum telling you not to?? You've never started to cross the road, then realising you're not going to make it in time (and if you are old or infirm you cannot sprint across)?? God it must be perfect being you. Bet you aim for pedestrians who dont make it in time- that'll learn em, eh??

Firstly everyone IS responsible for their own actions.

If your parents don't care enough about you to either look after you or teach you how to look after yourself why should anyone else care / be responsible for you ?

If you are too stupid to cross a road then frankly I don't think you're much of a loss to society.

If you vandalise a car I'd expect you to pay for it. If you damage it by hurling yourself in front of it - how is that different ?

I've hit an idiot cyclist who crossed at night, wearing dark clothing, on a red light - why the hell is that my problem ?

People with YOUR nanny state views are what's ruined this country.

[TheAlfaMale]

heebeegeetee said:

freedman said:

williamp said:

and not every pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions

What utter nonsense

No it's not.

Yes it is.


Ever heard of "personal responsibility?" The road is for cars / vehicles, the pavement is for pedestrians. Simples.

[heebeegeetee]

Robb F said:

What are you on about?

Every one is responsible for their own actions. No one else is responsible for them are they?

No, a child isn't responsible for it's actions. Furthermore a person can be mentally deficient, have no legal responsibility for himself but may still be able to walk.

Pedestrians are even allowed to be deaf and blind.

[Corpulent Tosser]

williamp said:

cant see it either. If yoyu are in charge of a motorised vehicle, of a certain weight and capable of a certain speed, you need the rewuired amount of training. And that includes the anticpation that a pedestrian might do something unusual

You cannot expect a pedestran to have a level of training. Whilst there is a notion of training- green cross code etc, not eveyrone has this, and not ev ery pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions

I was in agreement right up to "not ev ery pedestrian can be responsible for their own actions"

We are all responsible for our actions and ommissions

[heebeegeetee]

TheAlfaMale said:

Yes it is.


Ever heard of "personal responsibility?" The road is for cars / vehicles, the pavement is for pedestrians. Simples.

100% wrong. (Or are you on a wind-up?)

Possibly another car driver who doesn't know what a road is.

It's frightening.