Telling pedestrians to wear bright colors can rankle some
Q Your article titled “A plea to pedestrians to avoid wearing black clothes” was in very bad taste.
Nearly 40,000 Americans are killed each year in motor vehicle crashes, and cars do the killing, not pedestrians. With great horsepower comes great responsibility. All drivers have a legal obligation to operate their vehicle at a slow enough speed to anticipate hazards and stop for them. This is classic victim blaming.
Your platform would be much better … targeting distracted driving, which unlike walking around in dark clothes can and does kill people on a daily basis.
— Mary Natoli, Houston
A
Oh, so many times over the years I have railed against drivers texting, drinking, smoking pot, speeding, eating sloppy burgers, etc.
Q
Your column about people wanting pedestrians to wear bright clothing instead of dark clothes was a disservice to your readers. At best it only confirms the preconceived notions for drivers. At worst, it further lets drivers off the hook for their own responsibility as they pilot a multi-ton vehicle. Please use your forum to elevate this conversation. — Drew Dara-Abrams, San Mateo
A
I am. Urging pedestrians to wear brighter clothes also should be part of the conversation.
Q
Oh, how I support the idea that people wear something, anything, reflective at night. In my neighborhood, people ride on major roads without good bike lanes while wearing black, no helmets and minimal to no lights. And it will be a driver’s fault if the bicyclist is hit.
— Chris MacIntosh,
Redwood City
A
And …
Q
Cellphone and iPod use (by all parties), wrong-way walking and biking, and electric silent cars have made walkers and bike riders as likely as squirrels to get hit. Some days I’m afraid to get behind the wheel of my car.
— Becky Hayman,
Los Altos A
New rules will require electric cars to emit some noise.
Q
Your collection of opinions blaming people on foot and on bike for getting killed, maimed and injured by traffic was not cool and not amusing. I can have reflective ankle bands, a Vision Zero reflective vest, two headlights, a taillight, one helmet light forward and a red helmet blinker aft, and a lot of reflective tape on my bike’s fenders, even tires with reflective sidewall stripes and still not get seen. It’s usually drivers turning right or left or pulling out of parking lots who aren’t looking and fail to yield.
— Robert Leone, Los Gatos
Q
Most pedestrians are already carrying smartphones with flashlights. I turn those on when I cross the street and point it in the direction of oncoming vehicles. — Julius Pioroda, Newark
A
A sensible idea.