The collision counter on the DriveSmartBC website estimates 33 pedestrian deaths and 1,374 pedestrian injury collisions in B.C. to July 29, 2015. I almost added to that number driving in Vancouver last weekend and the incident still has me shaking my head. I can’t believe that a pedestrian could be that stupid!
I had stopped for a red light in the downtown area and intended to make a right turn. After the pedestrian signal went red and the people had crossed, I pulled across the marked crosswalk and stopped again where I could see cross traffic well. I found my gap and was about to proceed when I looked right and found a pedestrian right in front of me crossing against the light. He was busy with his cell phone and was wearing earbuds and never even looked at me as he walked around the car.
He probably owes some of his good fortune to my wife who yelled and made sure that I hit the brakes before I drove over him.
The courts say that we can expect to proceed as if other road users will obey the laws. What that really means is if I had hit this person, he would probably have been assessed most of the fault for the collision. However, he was there to be seen and I would have bourne some of the blame too. Thank goodness it never came to that!
Police wrote only 210 tickets to pedestrians for failing to obey pedestrian signals in all of the province in 2014. It would appear that you have little risk of being called to account for this selfish behaviour.
Tim Schewe is a retired constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. To comment or learn more, please visit drivesmartbc.ca