Crosswalks are NOT red carpets... people!
Posted
on Tue, Feb 12, 2013 at 1:21 PM
This is going to be a polite rant-out to all the pedestrians in the HRM. Repeat after me ... cross walks ARE NOT red carpets! They're designed to help you get from one side of the road to the other, hopefully safely. They're not open invitations to stroll out onto without any consideration to oncoming traffic. Use common sense people! I realize most of you have never driven a car before, so let me shed some light on the situation. If you see 1 or 2 cars approaching and a clear road behind them ... wave us on through! It sucks slamming on the brakes so you can cross 5 seconds sooner. Show some CONSIDERATION!
Close Call #1: Driving my truck yesterday with nobody behind me, and no oncoming traffic, 2 ladies (talking up a storm btw) jump out onto the cross walk. One casually holds her arm/hand out while my truck comes to a screeching halt. As they laughed their way to the other side I couldn't help but think, now I know how "accidents" happen.
Close Call #2: Same truck after sun went down, same situation, 2 students leap out and barely look to see that I'm approaching at 40 km's with 1500 lbs of freight on board. Brake hard, swerve right, fight off snow bank, avoid crushing students, and BAAM there goes my right side mirror on the telephone pole. Thanks guys! Common sense would have observed I was the only one coming and common courtesy would have waved me on through.
I've never been to a more polite city when it comes to pedestrians. I walk too!! I was amazed when I first came to Halifax of this rare occurrence. Try pulling the above stunts in Toronto, Montreal, or anywhere else for that matter … SPLAT!
So people, on behalf of all drivers I plead you to use a little judgment before you run the red carpet and think you're entitled to the road. Look, think, and be smart. It might just SAVE YOUR LIFE! —Carpet Cleaning Courier