Pedestrians and the Invisible Force Field

While I like to always look for improvement in things, I also can't help sometime wondering at the stupidity in other things. Today that comes in the form of the average, street crossing pedestrian. Now maybe its just the peds here in Calgary, Alberta because I know this wouldn't fly in New York or Toronto or Chicago.

Consistently, people seem to rely heavily on the power of the invisible force field of the flashing lights that indicate a pedestrian is crossing. They hit the button to start the lights flashing and start walking into the street without ever looking to see a) if traffic is coming, and b) if that traffic is going to stop. They step into the lane between the white lines as though the lines will protect them from any bumper that dare enter the space.

Sorry to break it to you pedestrians but the flashing lights and white lines will NOT STOP A CAR, SUV or even a bike!

Last week it was a lady with her baby carriage. She hit the pedestrian button and pushed her child into the lane. I saw her and locked up my brakes to stop in time. She gave me a dirty look as though to indicate the lights (and force field) were going off and wasn't I an ass. I wanted to stop the car and ask, do you have any idea how far it takes the average vehicle to come to a complete stop from 50 km/hour?! Apparently not. Had I been looking down or anywhere else I would have crushed that baby carriage ... not a comforting feeling.

This week it was someone who turned sharply out into the street between the white lines. I stopped while the large city utility truck coming the other way couldn't stop in time. It's a function of physics!! This pedestrian hadn't looked up and would have been crushed if not for the truck driver honking his horn.

Please pedestrians ... take a moment to use your head, be present and respect that a bumper is much harder than your shins. I know the lights may be flashing and you may be between the white lines, but avoid the roulette wheel of traffic and assume that the force field could fail one of these days. I'd drive a little easier knowing you know.