A distracted pedestrian is unlikely to kill the driver of an SUV. A distracted driver operating thousands of pounds of metal can end someone’s life. If we are serious about making streets safer, responsibility should increase with the amount of harm you have the power to cause.
I came to that conclusion the hard way. I have been hit by distracted drivers six times while riding a motorcycle. Three cut into my lane, two rear-ended me, and one backed into me.
Every driver gave me some version of the same explanation: "I didn’t see you." After the sixth time, that stopped sounding like bad luck. It started sounding like a system. This should matter even if you have never ridden a motorcycle.
Almost everyone becomes a vulnerable road user eventually. You may drive in the morning and cross a parking lot on foot that afternoon. Your child may ride a bicycle.
Your parent may need more time to cross an intersection. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety research shows that pedestrians and cyclists struck by SUVs and pickups are more likely to be injured or killed than those struck by cars. Everyone should stay alert.
But equal responsibility sounds fair only until we consider unequal consequences. The operator capable of causing the greatest harm should carry the greatest obligation to prevent it. Modern vehicles can include automatic emergency braking, lane-assistance systems, cameras, and driver-assistance technology.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
