Iowa buses to honk more to curb accidents

[cwerdna]

Since this is somewhat related to "bell the hybrids"...

Iowa buses honk more to curb accidents - Life- msnbc.com

DES MOINES, Iowa - Honk if you love pedestrians.

In response to several instances in which pedestrians were struck by buses — including one on Monday — Des Moines this week began temporarily requiring bus drivers to honk every time they make a turn.

And since every accident happened when the buses were turning left, drivers now follow routes that allow only right-hand turns in the city's downtown.

...

Some residents wonder if the new rules are necessary.

"I don't understand how people are getting hit," said rider Ben Nizzi.

"I mean, who can't see a bus?"

And then there's all that honking. The city eventually plans to retrofit its 155 buses with a device that will sound when turning. Until then, drivers will have to lay on the horn themselves.

[Politburo]

I think the buses in Cleveland do this also. They get priority signals, so it makes sense, I suppose.

After doing some research, I see they also had a two recent pedestrian deaths due to left-turning buses.

Seems odd, because there is video of one of the incidents and it wasn't a blind-spot issue. The driver, inexplicably, just didn't see the ped.

[qbee42]

Darwin should take care of this problem, but it may take a generation or two.

Tom

[TonyPSchaefer]

Do any buses have forward-looking cameras?
How many people walk in front of buses?

[KK6PD]

People it's Iowa, what do you expect!!!

[The Electric Me]

Okay, maybe I'm paranoid. Okay, I know I'm paranoid. But it seems to me that people/pedestrians seem to not respect moving vehicles anymore, or they drift right out into streets and traffic. Seems to me that I have to be much more careful as a driver now, evidently fully functioning adults will drift, inch or walk right out into streets, Pedestrian crossing or not. It's like there has been an awareness drain on humanity. Some people seem to like to cross the street like a Matador likes to fight a bull. It's inch, inch, tease, fake, feign...I don't get it.

Of course it's always paramount for the driver of the vehicle to be primarily responsible for the safety of pedestrians. However, when I was growing up, as a child, I was taught to be VERY CAREFUL around streets and approaching traffic, for some reason that attitude seems to have vanished. It's like people don't realize that even a slow moving vehicle can kill them.

It's almost like an impact desensitivity. Maybe younger people are used to video games, and expect a reset button?

Please tell me it's my imagination.

I sometimes wonder if it's not vehicle color related, I currently own a dark metallic green and it seems like other vehicles and people will just pull out or step right infront of me. I've actually learned to expect it. It's almost like the vehicle is invisible. I don't know how many times I've slammed on the brakes and actually watched as the person in the other vehicle slowly seems to realize they just pulled out infront of another moving vehicle, I get the sheepish embarrased grin, but it is like they really don't notice the whole vehicle until I almost hit them.

Really, I grew up mostly in the suburbs and was taught at an early age to respect all moving vehicles and streets and be pro-active in my own safety as a pedestrian. Now it seems like people will step right out infront of you, and then be miffed if you slam on the brakes to save their lives. The balance seems to be gone.

[qbee42]

We have trouble with this in our little village. This is a tourist area, and people on vacation are not the sharpest tools in the shed, but honestly, the way they walk into traffic is horrifying. A two-lane state highway weaves through town: right turn, left turn, right turn, left turn, and out. Each segment is one small block, and none have stop signs. On the state highway the traffic has the right of way, not the pedestrians. In a neighboring village the state has erected signs that say "Traffic does not stop". I even recall the county sheriff saying that he could ticket drivers for stopping because it was technically obstructing traffic. Obviously he wouldn't, but it does make a point.

So many people now cruise through life, happily oblivious in their perception that someone else is looking out for their well being.

Tom