DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Women jaywalks with kids, driver kills one

**didrexx** · 07-28-2011, 11:37 AM

I wonder if the definition of jay walking differs from country to country.

in Australia, jay walking is walking across the road within 20m of a crossing, anywhere else and it's legal to cross the road without a crossing.

However also in Australia pedestrians have right of way on the road no matter what they are doing whether it's legal or not. So unless the pedestrian jumped in front of a moving car and the driver is unable to stop in time the driver is ALWAYS at fault.

I feel sorry for the loss, but why can't people wait 1-2 minutes for the lights to go green? Or does it take much longer over there?

According to the article she was 3/10ths of a mile from the nearest crosswalk. And the driver dropped her off direction in front of her house, just on the opposite side of the road.

Its dark, you have your children with you. They may be antsy, cranky, or tired. You have a choice o walking 3/10ths of a mile to the intersection, waiting for the light, then walking 3/10ths of a mile back for a total slightly over half a mile. Or simply crossing the street. Remember, she has her children with her, and children can't walk as fast as an adult. I think most people in chicago, as well as most people in the suburbs would simply cross the street right there. I would, my sister would. And my Mother has done it.

In Illinois Pedestrians always have the right of way except where prohibited from walking. City streets aren't one of those prohibited areas.

The driver of the vehicle wasn't in a safe state of mind to be driving. He was under the influence. Maybe not drunk, but he admitted to drinking. The article does not mention the blood alcohol content.

07-28-2011, 11:37 AM	#38
didrexx Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 481 Senior Member	I wonder if the definition of jay walking differs from country to country. in Australia, jay walking is walking across the road within 20m of a crossing, anywhere else and it's legal to cross the road without a crossing. However also in Australia pedestrians have right of way on the road no matter what they are doing whether it's legal or not. So unless the pedestrian jumped in front of a moving car and the driver is unable to stop in time the driver is ALWAYS at fault. I feel sorry for the loss, but why can't people wait 1-2 minutes for the lights to go green? Or does it take much longer over there? According to the article she was 3/10ths of a mile from the nearest crosswalk. And the driver dropped her off direction in front of her house, just on the opposite side of the road. Its dark, you have your children with you. They may be antsy, cranky, or tired. You have a choice o walking 3/10ths of a mile to the intersection, waiting for the light, then walking 3/10ths of a mile back for a total slightly over half a mile. Or simply crossing the street. Remember, she has her children with her, and children can't walk as fast as an adult. I think most people in chicago, as well as most people in the suburbs would simply cross the street right there. I would, my sister would. And my Mother has done it. In Illinois Pedestrians always have the right of way except where prohibited from walking. City streets aren't one of those prohibited areas. The driver of the vehicle wasn't in a safe state of mind to be driving. He was under the influence. Maybe not drunk, but he admitted to drinking. The article does not mention the blood alcohol content.
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