Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site cbosgd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxt!mhuxi!cbosgd!mark
From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Pedestrians in L.A.
Message-ID: <181@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 7-Aug-83 22:45:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.181
Posted: Sun Aug  7 22:45:28 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 8-Aug-83 10:33:29 EDT
References: <92@vortex.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Columbus
Lines: 41

As I understand the California law, as long as the pedestrian is
in a crosswalk (marked or unmarked), he has the right of way, no
matter that the signal lights might say.  Thus, if he crosses
against the light, he can be ticketted, but if a car hits him
while he's jaywalking, it's the cars fault.  While in Toronto,
the claim was made that in Canada it's the same way.

On the other hand, the California pedestrian does NOT have the
right of way in the middle of the block.  (A crosswalk is defined
as between the painted lines, if marked, otherwise as the extension
of the sidewalk into the street if unmarked.)  However, the general
impression most California drivers have of the law is that the
pedestrian has the right of way no matter what.

A friend of mine once told me of an Oregon drivers license question,
which was essentially:
	You are driving down the street.  A pedestrian walks out in
	front of you.  You
	(a) stop for him.
	(b) run him down.

Even if the pedestrian is wrong, it's still a lot of paperwork and
a big mess on your car.

For what it's worth, I learned to drive near San Diego, and for my
money, Southern California drivers are the best in the country!
This is no doubt because of the good driver training programs, and
the love affair Southern Californians have with their cars.  (When
you have no mass transit except a joke of a bus system, your car is
your lifeline.)  You haven't lived until you've commuted to work
on the freeway, doing 65 miles an hour, bumper to bumper.  These people
have to be both good drivers and courteous drivers, or the would
just sit around in traffic jams all day.  Up until recently I assumed
Texas was the same way, but after visiting there recently and having
been run off the road by a local delivery truck, I changed my assumption.
(And, of course, the Texans love their pickups, not their cars.)

My favorite strangeness is Pennsylvania.  I recall riding through
Pittsburgh and watching a 3 lane road with 5 lines of cars driving
down it.  I'm told that one of the requirements for a drivers license
in Penna. is that you have to be insane.