Discussions

Mr.Aftershock said "One of our kids got an auto fail on his driving test for stopping to let some walk across 18th at a regular corner not a marked crosswalk "

Happy to hear that driving instructors are not encouraging a dangerous habit of stopping on major throughfares to let a pedestrian cross the st or Ave. It''s a totally different situation when a pedestrian has walked out in front of traffic irresponsibly, then of course the driver should slam the brakes and do all to avoid the collision with the pedestrian. Downtown where there are traffic lights or stop signs is a no-brainer to let pedestrians go and not impede the traffic flow more than necessary.  
However, on this thread time and time again people are reading and interpreting rules to what they want it to be. Fact is, that if the law required cars to stop for pedestrians on 4,6 or even 8 lanes of traffic where there are intersections would be ridiculously dangerous for drivers and especially pedestrians. I challenge anyone to post here that they received a traffic ticket for falling to stop traffic at an intersection with no traffic lights where a pedestrian was waiting to cross. I''ve seen many times cars stop on Victoria Ave to let a pedestrian cross the st at intersections without traffic lights. This is both dangerous and irresponsible. Glad to see driver examination has it right!!  
 
Edited by 70`s guy, 2016-08-04 16:39:26

Where does common sense come into play here?

I have lived here for 16 years and have never noticed an increase to the speed limits on the Brandon streets to  
Appease the yahoos like myself. I find that stopping puts the pedestrian at risk because the vehicle in the lane beside you might think you are turning and drive right through (happened to myself and a pedestrian) or else the pedestrian waves you through. Then again I seen a white SUV just about hit a man at the cross walk because she decided to swerve around the people who were stopped. The pedestrian jumped onto the sidewalk as she whipped passed. She was clearly going over the speed limit on 1st. I can understand the reasoning for pedestrian safety why people don't want to stop unless it's a crosswalk but we need to  
actually stop at the crosswalks! If you are walking elderly or children it's kind of reckless not to be walking at a crosswalk.

Well that pretty well sums it up.....hate it though on Victoria when I see a child at the corner and I am in the closest lane and the lane beside me has a line up of cars flying by...feels like if I stop I may give someone a death sentence...awful

Mr.Aftershock said "One of our kids got an auto fail on his driving test for stopping to let some walk across 18th at a regular corner not a marked crosswalk "

there are a few reasons that your kid may have failed even tho the intersection is a unmarked crosswalk  
 
the first reason is the pedestrian has to signal their intent, if they havent made it clear they are crossing you would have stopped for no reason which is a dangerous action called failure to proceed  
 
another reason would be that there was a meridian where the pedestrian was crossing and your kid stopped before the pedestrian was on their side of the road, i median is treated like a separate roadway so if you stopped for the pedestrian on the other side you are essentially stopping for a pedestrian crossing on a different street  
 
or there could have been other circumstances where your kid rightfully failed yet the intersection is still a legal unmarked crosswalk  
 
usually the tester will explain why you failed, if they dont you should ask for clarification so you can be a better driver once out on the road

Back in the 80's, I was told "Once that person steps off the curb... the driver is responsible and accountable in assuring that they don't collide with the pedestrian. Jaywalking, crosswalk, street corner or walking along the road... It doesn't matter. If the driver has a clear view and is capable to yield/stop, the driver can/will be held responsible if there was to be an accident." Pretty simple rule to remember. Now, that doesn't give the pedestrian the right to step into traffic when it's not safe (when there's no breaks in the traffic flow to allow vehicles to yield or stop in time). But it's a given, that the pedestrian has to use good judgement on determining speed, distance and a little faith that those cars will be able to see their intentions and stop in time. We can pick this to death for another four pages on eBrandon, but if you as a driver hit a pedestrian... It will be you defending and justifying yourself to the cops for not getting charged. Simple as that.  
 
As for letting people crossing the street, road or highway at unmarked crossings: If it looks like they're waiting/indicating to cross and you are able to stop... It's simply common courtesy to stop and a safe practice to follow. Especially if both driver and pedestrian are looking directly at (or should obviously be easily seeing) one another. Pedestrians can easily misinterpret the drivers non-intention to stop, especially when it looks obvious that the driver should stop. And that's the word people here want/don't want to hear ...Should. The cops won't give you a ticket for ignoring them, unless that pedestrian attempts to cross when there's plenty of space/time to yield and you deliberately fail to do so.  
 
Be a selfish dick of a driver or not, if you see that pedestrian wanting to cross. But, if and when that person steps in front of your vehicle... The ball is in your court in doing your part in not striking them. Hopefully, the cops, Autopac and the general public opinion can see your selfish justification on striking a person with your car, simply on the fact that "you don't believe" you need to stop.  
 
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

is this topic so misunderstood and talked about so often.  
 
you stop for pedestrians that show intent to cross any intersection whether marked or not.  
 
and any driver ed tester that fails a driver for stopping for a pedestrian that is following the rules should be taken to task for that. maybe they need some remedial training themselves.  
 
maybe those drivers testers that do fail students in this manner should respond in this thread.  
 
for those that feel it is dangerous in a multi lane situation, your right it is, but that is also why you should be watching the traffic behind you and the pedestrian and react in some manner if you see an accident about to happen.

I will wait for a vehicle to go first. As a driver I allow the pedestrian to cross I'm side streets or if I notice them soon enough. Sometimes. I choose not to because of other drivers. As I stated before I don't want to be the cause of someone getting hit. Of course if someone is trying to  
Cross we will  
Stop. I don't believe any of us would deliberately hit a pedestrian.

goshdarn said "is this topic so misunderstood and talked about so often.     you stop for pedestrians that show intent to cross any intersection whether marked or not.     and any driver ed tester that fails a driver for stopping for a pedestrian that is following the rules should be taken to task for that. maybe they need some remedial training themselves.     maybe those drivers testers that do fail students in this manner should respond in this thread.     for those that feel it is dangerous in a multi lane situation, your right it is, but that is also why you should be watching the traffic behind you and the pedestrian and react in some manner if you see an accident about to happen. "

1: Entitlement and selfishness play a role.  
 
I literally forced a lady to stop for me so I could cross the street with my dog. She had plenty of time and distance to stop. I put my arm up to signal I was crossing when she was just coming up to 15th St on Victoria, I was already halfway across on 16th (at the median) but she didn't slow down so I stepped out and put my other hand up like a "halt" signal. She was po'd at me for some reason. Maybe she felt I should have waited for her when CLEARLY I had the right of way according to the law.  
 
2. I am a personal friend of a road tester and you will NOT fail a road test if you stop for a pedestrian crossing at a crosswalk: whether marked or not. You will however, fail if you do not stop for a pedestrian at a crosswalk. (See my previous post regarding what defines a crosswalk) If a person failed a road test for stopping for a pedestrian, it is because they stopped where there is no crosswalk at all. (J-walking)

Mr.Aftershock said "One of our kids got an auto fail on his driving test for stopping to let some walk across 18th at a regular corner not a marked crosswalk "

Your kid told you an untruth, failing to stop for a pedestrian is an auto-fail.  
The reason: Attempting to run over a pedestrian at a unmarked cross walk is a fail for a dangerous action.  
 
As by law, all 18th street corners are crosswalks. Marked or unmarked..  
 
http://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/pdfs/completehandbook.pdf  
Page 67  
 
Edited by loeog, 2016-08-05 07:04:51

Starting on page 40 of the drivers handbook explains turning in detail.  
 
http://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/pdfs/completehandbook.pdf  
 
I wonder how these people who turn incorrectly fare in different cities?  
As our city expands and more people come from different provinces I can see more and more accidents happening. Why doesn't our police do anything about all these traffic violations? Why are we teaching so many people to be bad drivers?  
 
I have come so close to having accidents for this reason, I'll be turning left into my closest lane and the person turning right wants to pull into their furthest lane... We can't both be turning into the same lane on a two lane road... You are to pull into your closest lane and then signal your intentions to get into another lane.

SparkyJones said "That say they failed a drivers test for stopping are either lying or getting screwed over by the tester...I'd get them to file a complaint... "

If they failed, it was for another reason.  
 
 
During my road test for a regular license a person stepped out onto the road at 11th and Princess from where the bus depot used to be on the south side walking north. I barely had time to stop but I did. After the test, I was informed I had lost no points for that but did lose 15 for not entering the parking lane when turning.... which has it's own special rules that should not exist, lol.  
 
Anyway, the point is, I asked the tester if I should have stopped or not - his reply was that I could have kept going and not lost marks as the pedestrian had literally appeared out of nowhere and walked right out without looking but he commended me for my reflexes and quick stop.

Cee Jay 55 said "    SparkyJones said "That say they failed a drivers test for stopping are either lying or getting screwed over by the tester...I'd get them to file a complaint... " If they failed, it was for another reason.       During my road test for a regular license a person stepped out onto the road at 11th and Princess from where the bus depot used to be on the south side walking north. I barely had time to stop but I did. After the test, I was informed I had lost no points for that but did lose 15 for not entering the parking lane when turning.... which has it's own special rules that should not exist, lol.     Anyway, the point is, I asked the tester if I should have stopped or not - his reply was that I could have kept going and not lost marks as the pedestrian had literally appeared out of nowhere and walked right out without looking but he commended me for my reflexes and quick stop. "

I also commend you for not hitting a pedestrian during your driving test. You should obviously do everything you can to avoid hitting a pedestrian wether they are in the right or wrong and that i:ncludes jay walkers too! If a pedestrian properly signals for traffic to stop at an unmarked intersection it may be a wise act to stop and allow the crossing and that depends on the traffic and time of day. For example, I would not be an enabler to let a pedestrian cross Portage Ave in Winnipeg at rush hour even if they signaled. My stopping would depend on the traffic around me and what I saw in my rear view mirror. It is so much safer to cross where traffic lights exists or designated cross walks so I encourage pedestrians to use the marked crosswalks as they are much safer. I think there is a lot of confusion on this thread on when to let a pedestrian cross an unmarked intersection. Some, at least the way I read it would have traffic stop at unmarked intersections to let a pedestrian cross unconditionaly. This is wrong and probably why people fail on their driver exam. At no time while driving should you let a pedestrian cross the street at an unmarked intersection unless clear intent is given. The pedestrian must clearly identify his/her intent by stretching out their arm. That is the key. Once the arm is stretched out and intent is clearly given then most drivers will give way, unless hazards exists. A driver stopping at an unmarked crosswalk intersection for a person is sooo wrong. A pedestrian simply standing at a crosswalk intersection is no reason for drivers to stop and be nice and encourage the pedestrian to cross. Hope we all agree on this last pont.  
 
Edited by 70`s guy, 2016-08-06 00:51:30

The hard part of this is that they are not easy to see and not all intersections have them.  
 
I was a passenger yesterday while we were heading west on Victoria Ave between 26th & 34th so I could pay attention to the crosswalks. Some of the crosswalks extended to the curb, some didn't.  
 
I noticed that on some intersections on 26th that, for example, on the south side of the intersection, the crosswalks would extend to the street, but on the north side of the intersection, the crosswalks did not extend to the street.  
 
I've noticed along Braecrest that there aren't many sidewalks extending onto Braecrest, so most intersections are not places for pedestrians to cross.  
 
So, as a driver doing the speed limit, you see a pedestrian standing at a corner with their arm extended wanting to cross. You also notice (or know) that it is not a crosswalk as the sidewalk does not extend to the curb. One person has stopped for the pedestrian. You keep going. Who is in the wrong?  
 
This is why there needs to be clarification on this matter, for everyone's safety.