Editor:
Re: Remember pedestrians have the right of way, letter to the editor, Sept. 21
I agree wholeheartedly with Brian Stewart that motorists are often in too much of a hurry to consider the safety of pedestrians, but pedestrians also have a responsibility to ensure their own safety.
Stepping out onto the crosswalk without ensuring the driver has seen you and that he is able to stop is tantamount to suicide.
Pedestrians in shopping malls have a similar responsibility. One should ensure that a driver who is reversing has indeed seen you and avoid stepping out from between parked cars.
Similarly, does one really need to walk in the centre of the rows with a shopping cart?
If everyone, motorists and pedestrians alike, were courteous and cautious there would indeed be fewer accidents and dented egos.
Stepping out onto a road, crosswalk or parking lot without checking is both cavalier and dangerous.
It is also wise to remember that a vehicle takes a lot longer to stop than a pedestrian. Pedestrians do have the right of way on crosswalks but not necessarily on roads.
Angela Baggott
