Terrible Story From Off of CNN

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FullerH

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Nov 25, 1998
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I grew up in Northern Virginia and there were no sidewalks and no streetlights along Old Dominion Drive where I lived and none on any of the other roads around there, so I found this story particularly disheartening.
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/10569350/detail.html?subid=22100406&qs=1;bp=t

I and my friends used to walk along the sides of roads all of the time. It was the only way to get anywhere. But we always walked FACING the traffic flow so that we could see whatever mght be coming at us. I can remember jumping off into the brush along side the road on several occasions to evade speeders, large trucks, and general idiots. I have no idea what or how the accident happened and I point no fingers of blame, but it brought back memories that I had forgotten.

BTW. there are still no sidewalks or street lights along Old Dominion Drive out where I grew up to this day, despite it being one of the most expensive areas and wealthiest areas in the nation at this point in time.
 
That is always terrible news to hear about. But I can not tell you how many times I have come close to hitting people who are on the road wearing dark clothing. These are roads that are unlite and no sidewalks also. I am driving along and I don't see them until they are next me. If I had to swerve to avoid a road obstacle or animal I would have hit them.

In my state drivers are rarely if ever charged with any crime if they struck someone, especialy if they had on dark clothing. Pedestrians have an obligation to make themselves visible if they are going to be walking on the road. when you consider the amount of people that drive impaired from drugs, alcohol and sleep deprivation I am surprised there are not any more car vs. pedestrian accidents.

We must be defensive drivers but pedestrians must also be defensive on dark roads.
 
FullerH said:
I grew up in Northern Virginia and there were no sidewalks and no streetlights along Old Dominion Drive where I lived and none on any of the other roads around there, so I found this story particularly disheartening.
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/10569350/detail.html?subid=22100406&qs=1;bp=t

I and my friends used to walk along the sides of roads all of the time. It was the only way to get anywhere. But we always walked FACING the traffic flow so that we could see whatever mght be coming at us. I can remember jumping off into the brush along side the road on several occasions to evade speeders, large trucks, and general idiots. I have no idea what or how the accident happened and I point no fingers of blame, but it brought back memories that I had forgotten.

BTW. there are still no sidewalks or street lights along Old Dominion Drive out where I grew up to this day, despite it being one of the most expensive areas and wealthiest areas in the nation at this point in time.
Click to expand...

Old Dominion Drive in McLean? You're right, there are no streetlights there. (I grew up in Vienna and lived in McLean briefly) Most of McLean doesn't have street lights, now that I think of it. At least not back in the bling-bling residential areas. I guess folks figure it's safe enough there that they don't bother with lights. Also, nobody walks anywhere in McLean, there are hardly any sidewalks, and nowhere to go within walking distance anyway. That's what all the Mercedes, BMW's and Lexus' are for.
 
Yes, I saw that and could not figure the reasoning behind it except that somebody in the Prosecuting Attorney's office probably figured that someone needed to be charged since three kids had been killed. Perhaps there is more to it.
 
The article and the TV News video don't have all the facts, but with the few they give, it just screams "what the hell were they thinking walking on that stretch of road at midnight with a group of school kids?" The kids were going back and forth across the street, no lights, not only no sidewalks, but no shoulder on that road as well. A poor little girl dies because of terminal stupidity on the adults part in that group.

Hank
 
Well, not having all the facts, if they didn't have cars and didn't know anybody who does what else are they going to do if they miss the bus? And I thought only one girl died. They also claim they were criss-crossing the street because the truck was swerving.

Either way, very sad story. Actually a member of my family (somewhat removed) got killed that way, too. A mile from the house his family lived in by a car who's driver knew the family: Dark road, not street lights and to make matters worse, hedges the hight of a man on the shoulder, so you can not look around the next bend.
 
Pedestrians have a sense of invincibility. Even if they can walk around in dark clothing on unlit roads, it doesn't mean that they're not going to get hit. For example, before I could drive, when I was always a pedestrian and never got on the other side of the issue, I would feel a false sense of security, thinking (illogically) that I was safe because I was in the clear legally. The fact is that people don't consider the human factor. I may have had the right to be walking in relatively dark clothing on roads without sidewalks, but nothing could stop an unattentive or distracted driver from plowing into me. Sure, the guy who melted me to his exhaust would get arrested and charged, but that wouldn't change the fact that I am severely injured or dead.

A liberal sense of enititlement to safety can completely bypass common sense at times. You really need to consider what can happen and how easily that can happen before you decide to risk something like that. I would say that all of us have had one of those moments where you look down for a second in your car and when you look back up you're awfully close to that guard rail or you're about to go off the road (or already have). Most of us only do that once or twice before we know better, but how do you know that someone who is searching for a dropped cell phone or who is screwing around with their radio presets isn't going to end up killing you? Just use common sense and don't assume that the law can protect you.
 
This town is mostly overlit, "security" lights glaring in your eyes everywhere you turn, but there are dark spots. Even in the light, drivers don't always spot one person walking, crossing the street, in the middle of all that glare.

I carry a flashlight or two every time I go out. There were times I know the drivers didn't notice me, but they noticed the couple of quick flashes as they turned towards me.

On the other hand, about a month ago, I was walking up the main street, in front of the big church, across the street from the town hall, late at night, only one car in sight, and that SOB deliberately swerved up onto the sidewalk right at me. Just before I had to jump aside, he swerved back down onto the roadbed.

Stay alert, assume nothing.
 
anybody have a link to the version of this story that does have more facts/info? :(
 
Esav Benyamin said:
On the other hand, about a month ago, I was walking up the main street, in front of the big church, across the street from the town hall, late at night, only one car in sight, and that SOB deliberately swerved up onto the sidewalk right at me. Just before I had to jump aside, he swerved back down onto the roadbed.

Stay alert, assume nothing.
Click to expand...
It was just Ren. He thought you were an Oompa-Loompa.
 
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