Why?

The typical argument against creating marked crosswalks is that they create a false sense of security for their users--that pedestrians assume drivers know they have the right-of-way and then step onto the asphalt without consideration that drivers might not stop.

But I suspect that unmarked crosswalks give car drivers a false sense of entitlement. How many drivers do you think are unaware or disrespecting of the fact that pedestrians, unless instructed otherwise by a clearly visible signage, always have the right-of-way at an intersection of streets? A very large percentage would be a good guess.

The rule is explicitly stated in the California Driver Handbook--you can't call yourself a licensed California driver without having read it. If California communities won't paint crosswalks because their residents are too ignorant to recognize crosswalks' purpose, perhaps the state should start expecting more from its drivers and set stricter standards for license issuance.

The rules, directly from the handbook (and emphasized):

A pedestrian is a person on foot or who uses a conveyance such as roller skates, skateboards, etc., other than a bicycle. A pedestrian can also be a person with a disability in a self-propelled wheelchair, tricycle, or quadricycle.

• Always stop for any pedestrian crossing at corners or other crosswalks. Do not pass a car from behind that has stopped at a crosswalk. A pedestrian you can’t see may be crossing.
• Do not drive on a sidewalk, except to cross it at a driveway or alley. When crossing, yield to any pedestrian.
• Do not stop in a crosswalk. You will place pedestrians in danger.
• Remember—if a pedestrian makes eye contact with you, he or she is ready to cross the street. Yield to the pedestrian.
• Pedestrians have the right of way at corners with or without traffic lights, whether or not the crosswalks are marked by painted white lines.
• Allow older pedestrians more time to cross the street. They are more likely to die as a result of a crash than younger pedestrians.

Michael Patrick 15:32 Pacific | #post |