A question about traffic flow and pedestrians.

[Rain Man]

Hypothetical:

Person A is a pedestrian walking to a small intersection that has a 4-way stop sign. Assume that Person A is on the southwest corner of the intersection and wishes to cross the street to the southeast corner. Person A is wearing Nike crosstraining shoes, tastefully faded jeans, and a t-shirt with a picture of former major league baseball player Ted Williams, with the logo "Ahead in the count, a head in the fridge."

Person B is in a vehicle approaching the same intersection. Person B is arriving from the north and wishes to go straight through the intersection to the south. Person B is driving a 2009 Ford Edge (SE model, Red Candy Metallic Tint Clearcoat exterior, Medium Light Stone interior, with optional grill inserts and chrome door handles).

Person B reaches the intersection and stops, making a full stop where the vehicle settles back. At this point, Person A is six feet from reaching the corner and walking steadily toward it.

If both people proceed, Person B will kill Person A and will damage the optional grill inserts on the Ford Edge, so neither person wants this to happen. Both are also law-abiding citizens who sincerely like to treat other people well unless those people are ugly, in which case they get what they deserve. Neither person views the other person as ugly, though at the same time neither person has a desire to see the other person dancing naked in front of a romantic fire.

In this situation, who has the right of way? Who should wait for the other to proceed through the intersection?

As a disclaimer, I am neither person in this situation. I'm just not sure who really should wait for the other person, and whether I'm doing the right thing in this situation. I have a policy and practice in place, but I want to see if others agree or disagree.

[Dave Lane]

Driver reached the intersection first and has the right of way. Pedestrian is required to reach the intersection then check traffic before preceding

[tooge]

I suggest you double up on your Xanax and take the bus from now on

[Luke]

I always thought that pedistrians have the right of way.

My driverse- ed teacher would say it is not so much who has the right of way as it is who YIELDS the right of way.

Of course this is all a moot point if the pedistrian weighs more than 300 lbs, in which case he has the right of weigh and perhaps a job as starting nose tackle if Coach Haley is the driver of the car.

[Johnny Vegas]

run em over then ask questions

[TrebMaxx]

I voted for the pedestrian to go first, they have the right of way. One question I have is was the pedestrian using a marked crosswalk? I was brought up to look both ways before crossing streets and that has worked well for me, I still look both ways to this day, I have never been hit by a car. When the fad of social feel goodness policy erupted and one policy that was implemented was the "pedestrians always have the right of way", or for example on the MU campus being a "pedestrian campus", is a short sighted policy. I can see this policy for crosswalks but unfortunately most people just cross streets (anyway they do here in CoMo) willynilly without looking because they have policy backing them up. Which makes more sense? A human pedestrian which can stop on a dime or a vehicle which could weigh from a ton to 3 tons being expected to stop for said pedestrian that just waltzes out into the street. I think pedestrians should be the ones to give right away. I would think more times than not that a driver would wave them on anyway.

[kindra68]

is it raining? cause if it was raining i would let the person go first, you know cause i'm sitting in my car all nice and dry and he's out there all wet and droopy. besides i like the song on the radio.

[TrebMaxx]

Originally Posted by kindra68

is it raining? cause if it was raining i would let the person go first, you know cause i'm sitting in my car all nice and dry and he's out there all wet and droopy. besides i like the song on the radio.

I always take weather conditions under consideration for pedestrians and bicyclist.

[kstater]

Originally Posted by Buck

6 feet equals about 2.5 steps, and the car is already at rest. I think the Car should get to go first,

This

[Consistent1]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

one of the reasosn tinted windows are illegal

Are ya enuff of a pu55y to let that stop you?

[kindra68]

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

I always take weather conditions under consideration for pedestrians and bicyclist.

ok, you are in the kool kids klub. but don't ask me the secret handshake, i don't know it yet.

[Earthling]

Generally I always think the smaller thing (pedestrians...bicyclist, etc.) should alwys give the right of way to the bigger, potentially deadly, highway things. Just how big is this pedestrian anyway?

[cdcox]

If I'm the pedestrian, and am reasonably sure that the motorist sees me, I'll pick up my pace to a brisk jog until I cross the intersection. This both asserts the right of way of the pedestrian (me) and shows courtesy to the driver because I've made a clear effort to evacuate the roadway.

If I'm the motorist, I'll yield to the pedestrian if he asserts his right of way. If he stops, I'll take one of two courses of action: if there is a clearly marked crosswalk, I'll waive them through. If it there is no cross walk I'll drive through first. There is something sacred about a cross walk.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Didn't get past the t-shirt.

I want one.

[ClevelandBronco]

Person A should look first for a hand signal from Person B. If he is given one quickly, he should proceed on course rapidly so as not to delay person B any longer than necessary. A slight burst of speed and a friendly wave from Person A will be welcomed by Person B at this stage.

If no signal is given by Person B, Person A should gesture to indicate that Person B should guide his vehicle through the intersection first. This ensures that Person A will not assume too much of Person B without knowing how his day has been going. Person A should then adjust his speed and course so he will pass immediately behind Person B's vehicle. Person B should proceed through the intersection rapidly, though not carelessly, so Person A does not have to walk too far out of his normal pedestrian path in order to pass behind Person B's vehicle. In the latter case, Person B should have the courtesy of delivering a friendly wave to Person A as he passes him.

Person A's safety should be paramount to both parties throughout this interaction. Both parties' convenience is important, but of secondary consideration.

Eye contact is complex in this interaction and the gender and attractiveness of both parties should be considered at all times.

Disclaimer: Weather can add an element of complication to the answer above.

[Stewie]

Since the pedestrian is on the south side of the intersection I'd let him/her go first. Kind of the same reasoning that the driver to your right proceeds first when you approach an intersection at the same time. They get out of your way faster than you can get out of their way.