I planned on refraining from commenting today but the speed hump topic made that impossible. 🤠
A year or two ago a school teacher was killed where Swamp Rabbit crosses Sulfur Springs Rd. She was riding a bike, and stopped to wait for the light to change, to enable people to cross the road. Apparently when the light changed she failed to do what every child, in my day any way, was taught to do, look both ways before she crossed the street. Unfortunately a driver ignored the light change and hit and killed her.
I bring this up to highlight an obvious point that seems to not be obvious to many. Roads are constructed for motor vehicles, they are the only place such vehicles can go. Vehicles are heavy pieces of equipment moving at relatively high speeds yet these days vehicles are treated like second class citizens compared to pedestrians; who can stop and start on a dime.
Why not use a little common sense and instead of requiring vehicles to yield to pedestrians, require pedestrians to yield to vehicles? If that teacher had acknowledged the reason the road was there she would not have been killed that sad day.
Even better. We have already acquired a $20 million dollar grant to build a bridge over both Sulphur Springs and West Blue Ridge Drive to ensure that traffic and pedestrians don’t encounter these unfortunate circumstances. I will be announcing this next year when the funds are available, but wanted you to know a County tax free solution is on the way!
That's good but there are a lot of areas where vehicles are expected to yield to pedestrians. Driving through TR there are signs telling vehicles to yield.
This past summer I had an emergency with a dog, on the way to the vet we had to cross SR Trail on Roe Ford Rd. Some person with an apparent need to feel special stopped, along with the three cars behind her, to let some walkers cross. Apparently she wasn't capable of understanding if she, and the three cars behind her just drove past, in 10 seconds the road would be clear. Instead we had to stop, wait for the walkers to make sure it was safe (at least they looked both ways) and then walk across. It took a minute to do what could have been done in 10 seconds.
Thankfully we got to the vet and the pup is ok, but no matter if a person or a dog, in an emergency seconds count. Yielding to pedestrians is an inconsiderate way for inconsiderate people to document they are inconsiderate. We can't expect bridges everywhere, and there is no bridge to common sense for many.
This is something that would have to be changed at the State and even Federal level. Under Section 56-5-3110 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing the street within any marked or unmarked crosswalk at intersections. However, pedestrians are also expected to act responsibly by using marked crossings when available and by not stepping into traffic so suddenly that a vehicle doesn’t have time to yield safely.
I don’t have the means to change those laws, rather assist both drivers and bikers/walkers in keep all as safe as possible based on the laws by which we are governed. That’s why I thought the bridges would be an excellent step to ensure that the larger roadways are less impacted by these types of events.
No no no……$20 million to address all crossing in District 19. There are two bridges, but it will cover Saftey measures for all crossings throughout the Distrcit!
At most of the trail crossing, vehicles have the right of way. Vehicles are just supposed to low down and pass through the crossing slowly. The vehicles that are stopping aren't doing the right thing. That will cause more accidents. In most crossings, the trails actually have a stop sign. Unfortunately, some bikers think throwing up their hand in a "stop" motion is the proper thing to do instead of stop like they are supposed to. Don't get me started on cyclist because a lot of them that ride the road don't even follow the rules of the road as they should 😒
Yes indeed. Common sense and government, with a few exceptions, have no relationship with each other. Other than elected politicians, with those same few exceptions, who would think it makes sense to require a 1/4 ton, or more, vehicle that's moving at the very minimum of 25 mph, should yield to individuals who can stop on a dime?
Any government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have!
This driver ran a red light and killed a human. To use your logic, does every car at a stoplight need to stop momentarily at a green light to check both directions? This biker had the right of way.
Hmmm, I suspect I can be quite crass, however I'm not sure what that has to do with this. Nowhere did I defend the driver, I noted they ignored the light change. That's a fact.
As for the teacher, are you of the opinion she did look both ways but entered into the road anyway? Personally I suspect she saw other cars slowing down and moved into the intersection assuming they all were stopping. We see what came of that assumption.
When stopped at a traffic signal I, and most people wait until we are certain oncoming traffic is stopping before we enter the intersection. If the teacher waited she would have seen the jerk blow through the intersection, she could have yelled some choice words at them and then crossed the road.
No matter who is right and who is wrong, odds are heavily in favor of the vehicle over the pedestrian; it would seem more logical for pedestrians to alway defer to vehicles. If that's being crass, so be it.
How can you claim to be looking at facts and then say maybe? Using your approach, maybe the driver had the sun in their eyes and couldn't see the light had changed.
I believe in personal responsibility, and both the driver and teacher have paid the price. It's a tragic event that shouldn't have happened, on both counts. Citing this event enables the teacher to teach a final lesson.
"As for the teacher, are you of the opinion she did look both ways but entered into the road anyway? Personally I suspect she saw other cars slowing down and moved into the intersection assuming they all were stopping. We see what came of that assumption."
I'm not making any assumptions. I'm looking at the facts on the ground. Quite simply, this woman had the right of way. Maybe she did look both ways but could not see the approaching vehicle due to the morning sun. It doesn't really matter.
It's irresponsible and cowardly to use the loss of this woman's life to bemoan the loss of "your" roads to bikes and pedestrians.
I planned on refraining from commenting today but the speed hump topic made that impossible. 🤠
A year or two ago a school teacher was killed where Swamp Rabbit crosses Sulfur Springs Rd. She was riding a bike, and stopped to wait for the light to change, to enable people to cross the road. Apparently when the light changed she failed to do what every child, in my day any way, was taught to do, look both ways before she crossed the street. Unfortunately a driver ignored the light change and hit and killed her.
I bring this up to highlight an obvious point that seems to not be obvious to many. Roads are constructed for motor vehicles, they are the only place such vehicles can go. Vehicles are heavy pieces of equipment moving at relatively high speeds yet these days vehicles are treated like second class citizens compared to pedestrians; who can stop and start on a dime.
Why not use a little common sense and instead of requiring vehicles to yield to pedestrians, require pedestrians to yield to vehicles? If that teacher had acknowledged the reason the road was there she would not have been killed that sad day.
Even better. We have already acquired a $20 million dollar grant to build a bridge over both Sulphur Springs and West Blue Ridge Drive to ensure that traffic and pedestrians don’t encounter these unfortunate circumstances. I will be announcing this next year when the funds are available, but wanted you to know a County tax free solution is on the way!
That's good but there are a lot of areas where vehicles are expected to yield to pedestrians. Driving through TR there are signs telling vehicles to yield.
This past summer I had an emergency with a dog, on the way to the vet we had to cross SR Trail on Roe Ford Rd. Some person with an apparent need to feel special stopped, along with the three cars behind her, to let some walkers cross. Apparently she wasn't capable of understanding if she, and the three cars behind her just drove past, in 10 seconds the road would be clear. Instead we had to stop, wait for the walkers to make sure it was safe (at least they looked both ways) and then walk across. It took a minute to do what could have been done in 10 seconds.
Thankfully we got to the vet and the pup is ok, but no matter if a person or a dog, in an emergency seconds count. Yielding to pedestrians is an inconsiderate way for inconsiderate people to document they are inconsiderate. We can't expect bridges everywhere, and there is no bridge to common sense for many.
This is something that would have to be changed at the State and even Federal level. Under Section 56-5-3110 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing the street within any marked or unmarked crosswalk at intersections. However, pedestrians are also expected to act responsibly by using marked crossings when available and by not stepping into traffic so suddenly that a vehicle doesn’t have time to yield safely.
I don’t have the means to change those laws, rather assist both drivers and bikers/walkers in keep all as safe as possible based on the laws by which we are governed. That’s why I thought the bridges would be an excellent step to ensure that the larger roadways are less impacted by these types of events.
I agree bridges are the preferred option, but $20 million to construct just 2 bridges? I might put a bid in for that kind of loot!
No no no……$20 million to address all crossing in District 19. There are two bridges, but it will cover Saftey measures for all crossings throughout the Distrcit!
Ahh rats, I thought I might be able to stick it to the taxpayers too. Hahaha. Thanks for the clarification, that's good to know!
At most of the trail crossing, vehicles have the right of way. Vehicles are just supposed to low down and pass through the crossing slowly. The vehicles that are stopping aren't doing the right thing. That will cause more accidents. In most crossings, the trails actually have a stop sign. Unfortunately, some bikers think throwing up their hand in a "stop" motion is the proper thing to do instead of stop like they are supposed to. Don't get me started on cyclist because a lot of them that ride the road don't even follow the rules of the road as they should 😒
Yes indeed. Common sense and government, with a few exceptions, have no relationship with each other. Other than elected politicians, with those same few exceptions, who would think it makes sense to require a 1/4 ton, or more, vehicle that's moving at the very minimum of 25 mph, should yield to individuals who can stop on a dime?
Any government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have!
How crass can you be?!
This driver ran a red light and killed a human. To use your logic, does every car at a stoplight need to stop momentarily at a green light to check both directions? This biker had the right of way.
Hmmm, I suspect I can be quite crass, however I'm not sure what that has to do with this. Nowhere did I defend the driver, I noted they ignored the light change. That's a fact.
As for the teacher, are you of the opinion she did look both ways but entered into the road anyway? Personally I suspect she saw other cars slowing down and moved into the intersection assuming they all were stopping. We see what came of that assumption.
When stopped at a traffic signal I, and most people wait until we are certain oncoming traffic is stopping before we enter the intersection. If the teacher waited she would have seen the jerk blow through the intersection, she could have yelled some choice words at them and then crossed the road.
No matter who is right and who is wrong, odds are heavily in favor of the vehicle over the pedestrian; it would seem more logical for pedestrians to alway defer to vehicles. If that's being crass, so be it.
How can you claim to be looking at facts and then say maybe? Using your approach, maybe the driver had the sun in their eyes and couldn't see the light had changed.
I believe in personal responsibility, and both the driver and teacher have paid the price. It's a tragic event that shouldn't have happened, on both counts. Citing this event enables the teacher to teach a final lesson.
Share the road is a two-way street.
"As for the teacher, are you of the opinion she did look both ways but entered into the road anyway? Personally I suspect she saw other cars slowing down and moved into the intersection assuming they all were stopping. We see what came of that assumption."
I'm not making any assumptions. I'm looking at the facts on the ground. Quite simply, this woman had the right of way. Maybe she did look both ways but could not see the approaching vehicle due to the morning sun. It doesn't really matter.
It's irresponsible and cowardly to use the loss of this woman's life to bemoan the loss of "your" roads to bikes and pedestrians.
I tremendously dislike speed humps!!