[Image-1]
I am a pedestrian, and I am an idiot.
I am a seven-year-old child, racing across the street to catch the school bus.
I am drunk, stumbling home after a party. I am wise enough to leave my car keys, but too forgetful to save money for cab fare.
I am getting older; I’ve always been responsible, but my memory and reaction time are not what they used to be.
I am not myself today—my head is foggy with medication. It’s hard to concentrate, but I can’t afford to take a sick day.
I am distracted. I just had a huge fight with my boyfriend, my grades are in the toilet and I don’t know if I’ll make rent next month.
Perhaps you expected me to be different, something closer to your delinquent pedestrian stereotype: say, a teenager, constantly texting, music blasting through headphones. Sometimes I am. Would you rather me be driving?
None of us have ever given a thought to jaywalking fines. That won’t change whether the penalty is $50 or $1,000. More importantly, we won’t change. For some of us, the most responsible choice we made today was the choice not to drive. We don’t have the choice to stay off the streets, nor do we want to be sequestered in our homes. Most of us are trying our best, and that won’t always be good enough.
I am a pedestrian, and I am not an idiot.
I strain to keep hold of my stroller in winter, as I scale the snow hill to push the signal button. Others, more mobility-impaired than I, don’t have that luxury. I carry my kid across Robie and Quinpool—kicking and screaming because she wants to walk, but her tiny legs won’t make it across before the countdown reaches zero. I wait through extra light changes in Clayton Park, because even though traffic has stopped, I was a second too late to push the button and the signal didn’t change. I wait for my light (most of the time) at South and South Park, even though it’s midnight, and South Street is deserted.
I stand on corners, watching angrily as car after car refuses to stop, because many of you still don’t know that every intersection is a crosswalk. Maybe you know but just don’t care. I used to take down license numbers of all the cars that don’t stop—or worse, try to run me down—but I stopped bothering after being told point blank that nothing would ever be done. Eventually, when there’s a break in traffic, I’ll step off the corner, staring you down. So often, you’ll play chicken with me, not stopping until the last second, or at all, hoping I’ll back down. And I do. Perversely, you think we’re equals in this twisted game. If you hit me, I might cost you a paint job; if you hit my kid, she’d barely make a dent.
This week, Nova Scotia passed a bill raising the fine for pedestrians who cross against the light or fail to push a signaling button to $697—equal to the fine for “failure to yield to a pedestrian,” the polite term for drivers who run through crosswalks. Texting while driving, in comparison, incurs a fine of only $237.50. In addition to discouraging walking and targeting the vulnerable (if you can’t afford a car, it’s unlikely you can afford a hefty fine), these fine levels perpetuate the disturbing attitude that pedestrians hold equal responsibility for their injuries and deaths. Reading comments on any article about driver-pedestrian collisions reveals a slew of victim-blaming rants, even as the majority of accidents continue to take place in marked crosswalks.
From the time we can walk, we are pedestrians. It is neither right nor feasible to chase us from the streets. Some of us walk because we have no choice—we lack the funds, the ability, the clearheadedness or the maturity to drive. Still others consciously abdicate the responsibility of driving for private reasons of their own. Nominal jaywalking penalties may or may not be useful as a motivation for responsible behaviour, but it should be noted that the United Kingdom, for example, has no jaywalking laws and about half the pedestrian casualties as the United States.
Foisting undue responsibility onto pedestrians who are unwilling or unable to support that weight is not only unfair but counterproductive. Most dangerously, it downplays the responsibility and privilege of driving. We need to realize that there will always be imperfect pedestrians, who sporadically risk no life but their own. What we cannot support are irresponsible drivers, who risk the lives of everyone on the road. While driving may be an everyday activity, it is licensed, regulated and tested for a reason. Driving means accepting power, embracing responsibility, and drivers unwilling to acknowledge the gravitas of their actions should not be on the road.
If you would like aid in efforts to repeal the bill, send your thoughts to NS transportation minister Geoff MacLellan or contact your local MLA. There is also a Facebook group dedicated to repealing the bill.
———
Voice of the City is a platform for any and all Halifax individuals to share their diverse opinions and writings. The Coast does not guarantee the accuracy of, or endorse the views of those published. Our editors reserve the right to alter submissions for clarity, length and style. Want to appear in this section? Submissions can be sent to voice@thecoast.ca.
Related Stories
The safety dance: Crosswalk safety still sadly up to pedestrians
Crosswalk flags a success despite bureaucratic obstruction
This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2015.
I am a pedestrian and raising my son to be a pedestrian. This bill isn’t chasing people off the streets or discourage walking. It’s reminding people to act responsibly. There is no need to jaywalk. Yes, the city could do a lot to make some of the buttons more accessible, but then, let’s fight that fight. And if you get hit while jaywalking, you are not the victim, you are the cause of the accident, so there is no victim shaming happening either. Just follow the laws and everyone will be safe and no one will have to pay the fine… it’s not that hard.
You are not being chased from the streets, you are being asked to follow the same rules of the road as drivers. If you are ‘unwilling’, as you indicate you deserve the same fine.
@noyoucanthavadwarf
Kudos on basically responding to the pull quote out of context and not to any of the very real issues I raised.
More accidents happen in crosswalks ….. Its fearful walking in crosswalks. People dont stop …so when i see a chance i dart too…. Cheaper to get behind a wheel drunk or to kill someone in a crosswalk. Then to take your own caution in your own hands…. Its sad
I prefer jaywalkers, because they typically look when they cross, which is too often not the case at crosswalks.
yes i walk, and cycle, and i have seen a lot of dumb shit out there
I like your writing style. There are times when pedestrians do silly things, but essentially I agree with you. Wrote pieces about this same issue when I had a column in my local town paper. I had a shop on the Main Street and got a first hand view of what went on between cars and peds… it was terrifyling, frustrating, often disappointing when you knew the drivers and just down right mind boggling. One of my favourites is how people in cars will rarely give way to someone on foot when it is pouring rain, as though as you say, they are somehow on an equal footing.
Another serious peeve of mine is the lack of handicapped parking in downtown Halifax and/or leniency towards those with limitations who are a bit late to refill the meter or while unloading. As someone with a handicapped sticker, two knees in need of replacement, I have twice been ticketed while unloading clothes that I sell in two, second hand clothes shops. One on Birmingham Street (near Queen) while in front of a loading zone right beside the clothes shop, for Pete’s Fruitique ( huh… that store, a block away, gets a loading space cleared permanently for them on Birmingham Street, so as to enable huge transport trucks to back up, on the off chance they are doing deliveries at 4:30p.m. during rush hour?). Even the owners of the shop have been ticketed. The officious little lady ticketer explained that the unloading zone sign for Pete’s and not for the likes of the handicapped unloading directly in front of their destination it seems. She was not at all moved by my sticker or explanation that there is no other space on that street close enough to get to the shop while carrying a heavy load of clothes.
The other ticket was while parked on a virtually empty street, full of empty meters along where Tom’s Bar is off Queen, while loading clothes into Elsie’s, at 5:10 pm, in the snow and ice…. risking my life crossing Queen with an armload… and yes… jay walking! Guess who I saw scurrying away in the dark? The little lady ticketer with no heart.
Well said.
I am a driver. If I am not feeling myself or so distracted that I cannot function enough to operate my vehicle in a safe manner, I take a sick day and I stay home. If you, as a pedestrian, are not feeling well or so distracted/drunk/elderly/etc. that you cannot safely cross a street, stay home. If I, as a driver, hit you because you suddenly stepped out in front of me without looking, giving me a chance to stop, or being at a crosswalk, chances are I’m not going to care that you were distracted or sick or whatever. If I cause an accident, I get fined. If you cause an accident, you get fined. Simple as that. We all need to be responsible for the rules and for one another.
“Foisting undue responsibility onto pedestrians ….” Don’t jaywalk, push the walk button, don’t cross on the red hand, etc. The level of responsibility you consider ‘undue’ is taught to 5 year olds before they venture out into the world.
“What we cannot support are irresponsible drivers..” Nice stawman you have there. No one supports irresponsible drivers.
“We don’t have the choice to stay off the streets, nor do we want to be sequestered in our homes.” Another stawman, no one is forcing you to stay at home, just follow the rules of the road like everybody else.
“Most dangerously, it downplays the responsibility and privilege of driving.” No it doesn’t, the fines for irresponsible driving are significant and unchanged by this legislation.
If we just compare this fine to some other MVA fines, it’s:
*three times the fine for texting while driving
*the same as the fine for driving without a license, or without insurance
*actually less than the minimum fine for driving drunk
That does not make sense to me at all.
There is also no evidence, either from HRP or otherwise, to support the conclusion that pedestrians are at fault in a majority of pedestrian/car accidents. Check Figure 9 in this document here (I know it’s slightly old, but the point stands): https://www.halifax.ca/traffic/documents/c…
52% of collisions featured driver distraction or driver error as a factor. Four (4) percent of collisions featured pedestrian error as a factor.
This is a petty and ill-thought out law which seems to be designed to appeal to a certain type of driver that believes that pedestrians are always the problem and that everything would be better if we made all the roads wider and drove faster.
“I am a pedestrian, and I am an idiot.” With a statement like that, you’ll find tens of thousands of motorists who will agree with you…
Yes, go ahead and dislike my comment; it still doesn’t make what I said false.
While I agree that the amount of the fine far exceeds any reasonable penalty, I don’t see how you feel that Pedestrians shouldn’t have the same level of responsibility as drivers. A driver can drive perfectly and still end up hitting a pedestrian who’s not paying attention. And despite what so many people who don’t drive believe – it’s not always the driver’s fault.
Honestly I don’t think you realize how many pedestrians out there just dart out into traffic without looking – it’s a very common occurrence!
Since moving back to Halifax from Montreal, I am appalled at pedestrians and what seems to be a complete lack of regard for personal safety. I will first state that a $697 fine is ridiculous. In Montreal, it’s a $37 fine, and it is enforced mainly in areas where pedestrians tend to make risky choices. People are also fined for riding their bicycles in pedestrian-only areas. It’s a good system, it doesn’t break the bank, and it acts as a slight deterrent to anyone who thinks about crossing illegally. Are people crossing in the middle of an empty street ticketed? No! Pedestrians are still for the most part free to make their own choices regarding safety. However, those trying to run across main boulevards at rush hour will receive a slap on the wrist in the form of a ticket, and might think twice about doing it in the future. The actual charge of this bill aside, jaywalking fines do not unfairly target poor people or young people or old people, nor do they encourage people to drive instead of walking. They target people who break the law. I’m an alert driver and I have been able to stop every time a drunk student runs right in front of my car, laughing, or when the man or woman in a suit crosses in front of me on their cellphone, never even checking to make sure I’ve seen them. But maybe the car behind me isn’t so prepared next time, and because of that person’s recklessness, I’m the one who gets hit. It happens.
@barrington street pothole
What’s the purpose of the “rules of the road”? Are they designed to protect people, or for some other purpose?
The built in penalty for being an irresponsible pedestrian is injury or death. Drivers don’t face that risk in most vehicle/pedestrian accidents which is why there must be fines for unsafe driving behaviour.
Driving is a privilege and a responsibility (yes, even in rural NS). Being a pedestrian is essentially unavoidable. You can opt out of driving a car, but unless you’re very lucky you can’t opt out of living in a car-centric culture — there’s no need to reinforce the pedestrian/driver imbalance with these fines.
Note that many other major cities don’t have these high fines — what makes Halifax special?
Nice try Humeyni,
Fig 9 is Contributing Factors while Pedestrian is in Marked Crosswalk. Of course, driver distraction or error is high and pedestrian fault is low.
A slightly more relevant figure is Fig 11 Contributing Factors while Pedestrian is in Unmarked Crosswalk. In this case pedestrian error is the cause in 29% of cases.
There is no data in this report that provides any information on cases where this legislation applies – namely where the pedestrian is illegally crossing.
Drivers DO bear a great burden of responsibility for street safety, because they’re piloting large steel objects that zip around at 30, 40, 50 kilometres per hour, and are capable of injuring or killing people. This is not typically the case with pedestrians, no matter how reckless they are, and it’s perfectly reasonable for the fines levied on drivers and pedestrians to reflect this disparity.
And come on, the people saying “YOU MUST NEVER CROSS WHEN THE HAND IS FLASHING, AND NEVER STRAY FROM THE CROSSWALK” sound ridiculous. Do residents of any city in the world hew to the letter of bylaws like a bunch of perfect automatons? No. Within reason, people navigate the city on foot in the ways that are the most logical. Try going to New York or Amsterdam or London and telling pedestrians “Hey wait, you can’t cross the street if the little hand is flashing!” People would rightly look at you like you were batshit. In the centre of downtown Halifax, we have a similarly urban environment, and people navigate it in an urban (i.e., pedestrian-oriented) fashion.
If you think people must behave in such a rule-obsessed, ultra-delineated manner, stay out of the city.
If you walk in the streets where there are vehicles, then you *are* an idiot.
Go ahead and smoke cigarettes, taunt grizzly bears and have unprotected sex while you’re at it. Who cares. If you cross the street where there is traffic, then as a motorist you have just involved me in your childish delusion. That’s not fair.
Grow up.
@Barrington Street Pothole
29%, versus 24% featuring driver inattention/distraction as a factor. The report also has the following note:
“In the majority of pedestrian collisions reported in Nova Scotia, driver inattention/distraction is commonly a contributing factor.”
Given that the report also cites alcohol as a factor in both types of incidents I think it does cover “illegal” situations (note that not crossing at a crosswalk is not illegal). It doesn’t have unreported (probably minor) collisions but provides a good starting point for the discussion, and seems to refute the argument that it’s mostly just pedestrians.
This post is awesome! I could never really put the arrogance of an indignant pedestrian to words, but this about sums it up perfectly. You finally get handed a 50% stake in your own safety, and what do you do? You spout off about some convoluted socio-economic piffle and vow not to change, regardless of the new law. The entitlement is strong in this one…
In 2008 the fine for a driver failing to yield was $394 exactly the same as the fine for a pedestrian failing to yield. Looks like the fines for both drivers and pedestrians have always been comparable. So, the government is not suddenly oppressing pedestrians., you can move on to your next grievance.
I’ve nearly been hit in a “flashing lights” crosswalk on Barrington and Duke about 12 times this year. So, yes, when motorists don’t stop for pedestrians in marked cross-walks, it tells you jay-walking is actually the safer choice, and it shouldn’t cost me $697 to make it.
I think the reason there are no jaywalking laws in the UK is that they know how to do it safely. A good start is not to assume that the oncoming driver only has you to pay attention to, and wait for them to pass or show signs that they are going to stop for you.
@Likeltls
“Are people crossing in the middle of an empty street ticketed? No!”
It’s unfortunate you said that because you actually do make a few valid points. But I have to say, I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume you’re white, because otherwise you would know better. While I personally think HRM police are some of the nicest I’ve ever encountered, there’s no denying that a select few tend to use excuses such as jaywalking (even when it’s in the middle of an empty street) to stop someone. And guess what, it tends to happen more to people who aren’t white. All you have to do is take a drive or a walk down Gottingen to see it first hand.
And for the record, I’m a driver, in fact, I love cars. But yet this article still completely coincides with my opinion. Fining pedestrians 700 bucks is ludicrous for a minor offence. I’m not suggesting there should be no fine at all, but let’s keep some perspective on the severity of the crime. And on top of that, it really does seem to discriminate against the poor or the people who are dedicated enough to reduce congestion and pollutions by walking rather than driving. Like I said, I love driving and a love cars, but come on it’s a privilege we’re able to still have because of people who decide to walk instead. The least we could do is give them a break on the jay-walking, especially if it does not impede the flow of traffic or safety for both the pedestrian and the driver. Besides, if someone jay-walks unsafely in front of me while driving where I may not be able to stop in time, I react with the horn, as I would a car who might dart out in front of me. The horn is primarily meant to be as a warning device anyway, not a mouth piece for road rage.
What is most frustrating to me is that pedestrians are probably much easier to stop and fine. I lived on Quinpool for a while and walked to Dalhousie via Vernon St. There was an intersection that had a stop sign, but I often had to wait for several cars to roll right through it before I could cross safely. It’s hard to imagine any of them ever got stopped or ticketed. Occasionally a police officer would stand at the corner and cars would make the stop, and I was able to cross without fear for my life–but I really don’t think it should have been necessary.
I am someone who drives, bikes, and walks. A short while ago, I was on a bike and got hit by someone driving a car and they were fined ~180$. They could have killed me, and that was the amount they had to pay.
Paying almost 700$, as a pedestrian, is ludicrous!
One thing to consider is that people behind the wheel of the car have an extra tonne of responsibility. Them neglecting their responsibilities, and subsequently hitting someone will, as you say, likely cause that person considerable, potentially life-threatening harm. Someone on foot will not do that level of damage; the risk to others is considerably lower. (Granted, they could still wind up dead, but the onus is on them then, rather than someone else…)
A lack of responsibility where there is greater need for it should be fined accordingly.
Well said, Ms. McLay Paterson. That pedestrian fine is ridiculous and a cash-cow waiting to happen. Are they planning to enforce this and follow through? Good luck! I seem to recall that in England, pedestrians ALWAYS have right of way. It is so civil.
3 things.
– Motorists are subject to the same fine if they fail to yield.
– If you do not break the law, you will not get a fine.
– Most likely this fine will not be given unless there is an accident and the pedestrian is found to be in the wrong or the motorist is found to be in the wrong.
This is really a non issue. As many of you have said only 4% of accidents are the pedestrians fault, so very few of these tickets will ever be issued.
I think people who are against this Bill, just do not want to be held responsible for their actions or routinely break the rules of the road for pedestrians. Again if you obey the rules, you will not be ticketed. What is the problem?
Motorists who do not speed, do not get tickets.
Motorists who do not drink drive, do not get tickets for driving under the influence.
Motorists who yield to pedestrians, do not get tickets.
Pedestrians who follow the rules and laws, DO NOT GET TICKETS.
EVEN AN IDIOT SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT.
I am a driver. I drive close to 70,000 km per year, much of it in urban Halifax/Bedford/Dartmouth. I have testified in court many times about careless drivers at crosswalks.
That said, I have seen a lot of stupidity of people on foot/skateboard/bicycle. My personal peeve: dark clothes, at night, stepping out onto a street in front of cars. Cars do not instantly stop. Even a small car going just 50 km/h takes a few car lengths to come to a stop.
We do not want to hit pedestrians, or even have near misses. The roads are a busy spot, drivers are watching both sides for hidden dangers, signage, pedestrians; watching ahead for other cars and intersections; and even behind us, because there are other drivers who love to tail gate.
Walkers have the ability to decide not to cross in front of a car. Cars do not have the ability to prevent an unseen pedestrian from crossing in front of them.
This is starting to sound like that old joke about not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time.
If you are unable to walk on public streets and accept responsibility for any laws you may break, then maybe you need to stop walking and find a different mode of transport.
Just because walking is free and “maybe” a right, walkers like motorists do have to abide by a set of rules and laws or pay a penalty.
I am a driver and I am very tired of people walking out in front of me without even looking! What ever happened to the rules we were taught as children to stop , look both ways , if there are cars make sure they come to a complete stop before proceeding. Your life is not worth the idea that you were right ! Use some common sense and protect yourself , take that extra few seconds to make sure the cars are stopped !
Wow, what surprises me here is the fact that people are ‘classing’ themselves as either motorists or pedestrians. We are ALL pedestrians – or am i just foolish to assume that everybody walks places?
Author’s note about casualties in the US vs the UK is misleading, since the UK population is 1/5 that of US… Maybe look at pedestrian casualties per capita instead, reference a year, whatever.
The level of pedestrian stupidity in Halifax HAS gotten bad in the last few years. I am not saying I support a fine this big, but I largely do see idiots, especially in the university and downtown areas, making sharp turns and walking blind while texting into the street just expecting anyone coming to stop. If you don’t stop, hand signal and make eye contact with any vehicle driver approaching to make sure he is paying attention before setting a foot on the street, you are asking for it. Your intent to cross should be made clear
Because a ton of bad drivers DON’T pay attention. The size of the fine is stupid though.
Here is the way I look at things …I am a lot smaller than a car. I have to take additional precautions for MY life and I cannot expect a stranger to be responsible for MY life. Other cities and countries are very unsafe for pedestrians …you have to do everything you can to protect YOURSELF.
1. Quit calling anyone “stupid.” Just stop doing it. 2. Making someone pay a fine having to do with walking only makes sense if something else is a higher priority, something that is more important and urgent than people being free to move relatively unconstrained and ARE YOU KIDDING ME that driving a car is a higher priority? 3. Get out of your fucking cars.
There is a legitimate argument to be made about the amount of this fine. That argument is not made here. If people are too inept to walk across the street safely, they shouldn’t do it. Follow the rules and you wont get hurt – and if you do, at least it wont be your fault. This is a completely avoidable fine.
I have come close to hitting people numerous times. It shakes me up and terrifies me. If I actually did hit someone I would never be able to forgive myself. They just walk right out infront of you. I yelled at someone one day, her response? Pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way. Yes, that may be true, but my car can’t stop on a dime you dumass! Grow up, saddle your sense of entitlement and be smart. This debate is a non-issue. Don’t walk out infront of vehicles and you won’t get fined. It’s pretty simple. This is a discouragement used to prevent self entitled POS’s from being morons, they aren’t going to ticket the person who is innocently jay walking, they don’t care enough about you. They will ticket the moron who makes me slam on the breaks, squeel my tires and almost cause a pile up because the pedestrian ALWAYS has the right of way.
I realize there are some pedestrians that walk out without looking but I wonder about some of the comments of drivers ‘we can’t stop on a dime’. Just the other day the bus I was on stopped for someone at a crosswalk on Novalea, it was dinnertime, so dark. Some moron in a car tried to pass the bus at the crosswalk! He or she actually pulled into the opposite lane and had to squeal the brakes to keep from hitting this man crossing! I have to wonder if some of the people who complain about pedestrians ‘jumping out’ are the same people who speed through dark busy crosswalks! First, obey speed limits, i.e Novalea is NOT 65, it’s 50km. Second, when approaching a crosswalk look around for pedestrians who may cross while you are nearing the intersection. It’s being aware of your surroundings, which makes you a good driver and something that seems to be lacking lately. You can’t get in your car and driver on autopilot…you still need to pay attention even if you do the same drive every day. Spring Garden, Quinpool, Lower Water, Barrington, Gottingen….these are ALL very busy narrow streets and the expectation to driver 50-60km is ridiculous! And the mayor wants to put more people in these areas??
“Foisting undue responsibility onto pedestrians who are unwilling or unable to support that weight is not only unfair but counterproductive. Most dangerously, it downplays the responsibility and privilege of driving.”
Undue responsibility…..like looking before stepping off the curb, not crossing on a red light….oh god the responsibilities are too much. The only valid part of the statement is unwilling, unwilling to take any responsibility.
Just keep stepping off the curb, with headphones on, while texting, a sure candidate for a Darwin award.
Drivers get fines for all sorts of infractions, in 45 years of driving (60,000miles/yr) I have received $0.00 in fines. Oh I follow rules, how simple.
Fine pedestrians in no way downplays the responsibility of driving. Apples and oranges.