The Public Opinion Soapbox

SuperNerd · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 6

As I was driving through W'boro this morning on my way to my mother's house, I stopped for two pedestrians standing at a fully-labeled crosswalk. Imagine my surprise when a W'boro police officer in a marked SUV coming from the opposite direction passed right through the crosswalk without stopping even though the pedestrians were nearly halfway across. He couldn't have missed them - although his cell phone was firmly planted to his ear. No wonder there have been so many pedestrian accidents in W'boro - the cops are setting such a remarkable example!

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2107 Location: Chambersburg

I have found that all over this area, people are awful at stopping for pedestrians at crosswalks. Just awful. I don't know how several people a day aren't killed in the Wal-Mart parking lot; Giant even put up little stop signs. But in town, forget it. Chambersburg has a crosswalk for the Texas Lunch and I can say that almost no one stops; the worst part, in a situation like yours, is if one car stops, another in the other lane may not. Yikes.

I spent some time up in New England and I must say that I was amazed at the courtesy other drives gave to pedestrians. Then again, people actual walk around in New England.

theborobooigiepickers · Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 27 Location: Waynesboro, PA

I try to stop for as many as possible...clearly though you can tell if a vehicle is moving at a faster speed...SO, the safest thing for all parties involved is to wait for the vehicle to pass then make your move on foot. The other weekend I was traveling in the boro and two females stepped right out infront of my moving mini van, luckily my passengers seen them and yelled to "stop" before I demolished them! pedestrians need to be aware as well as the drivers I think. When I am on foot, I make sure vehicles from both ways notice me trying to cross...

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2107 Location: Chambersburg

theborobooigiepickers · Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 27 Location: Waynesboro, PA

Good Luck

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2107 Location: Chambersburg

shipgrrl · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 20

i completely agree with you that people around here are horrible at not stopping at crosswalks! i dont know how many times i've tried to cross a crosswalk in chambersburg and almost got plowed by a car. I had the same situation happen to me with a cop car...I was crossing the walk and a cop car flew right by me, not even slowing down. its ridiculous! i actually had a guy speed up while i was crossing, as if he thought i didn't have the right away and he was trying to hit me - i had to sprint out of his way! franklin county has the worst road rage ever! Go out in the western U.S. and people are MUCH more friendly when it comes to driving.