.. on the road.

Peter Egan has an interesting article in the new Road and Track. Link below. Its on drivers becoming increasingly uncivil to non-motorized users of public thoroughfares (ie. roads), especially to pedestrians. The article focuses on rural and semirural routes.

My neighbourhood is similar to Egan's and, like Egan, I walk a lot -- as does my wife -- especially with the dog. And I agree with Egan's assessment that many drivers seem not to notice, or perhaps care, about pedestrians. My own observations (statistically insignificant, to be sure) are that it is _not_ beer-can-toting Integras, 'vettes, or other enthusiast vehicles that are most likely to make the dog and I dive for the ditch, but more mainstream minivans and the like.

My hypotheses:
-- drivers have less sense of their speed because modern vehicles are more sound insulated, smoother ride, etc.
-- people are, in general, too damn busy and have other stuff on their minds
-- fewer people walk these days, so they don't know what its like to have a car zoom by at 80+km/h. Many folks behind the wheel grew up in a car-centric transportation system.
-- cell phones, in-car entertainment systems and the like that isolate the driver from the outside world and, well, from driving.

Anyway, its worth thinking about as we get behind the wheel.

Are Egan and I alone in noting this?



posted by 129.173.10...

The New Uncivility

• On Being Uncivil ..., kaslop, Sat, 15 Jan 2005 14:38:15 <-- Viewing This Message
  • night visibility??, JimBlake , Mon, 17 Jan 2005 13:57:59
  • Madison, Wisconsin, bruhaha, Mon, 17 Jan 2005 10:32:17
  • follow up, kaslop, Mon, 17 Jan 2005 06:36:12
  • I think things are worse now, too., mdj, Sun, 16 Jan 2005 19:04:38
  • Car vs Pedestrian traffic / Bad planning, Camm , Sun, 16 Jan 2005 18:30:11
    • Re: Car vs Pedestrian traffic / Bad planning, kaslop, Mon, 17 Jan 2005 06:01:36
  • Re: On Being Uncivil ..., biggerbox, Sun, 16 Jan 2005 11:14:12
  • Americans increasingly self-centered ? >>>, BobD, Sun, 16 Jan 2005 11:00:37
    • Re: Americans increasingly self-centered ? >>>, Michael , Mon, 17 Jan 2005 17:46:09
    • Agree. It's not distraction; it's bad attitude, Erik, Mon, 17 Jan 2005 10:14:07
      • ATL is a good example of those bad examples, RS , Mon, 17 Jan 2005 10:25:53
        • probably both..., kaslop, Mon, 17 Jan 2005 11:54:54
  • Re: On Being Uncivil ..., Daanimal900, Sun, 16 Jan 2005 10:30:29
  • Sure is a problem. Our area is semi-rural and, Noel, Sun, 16 Jan 2005 08:32:11
  • Re: On Being Uncivil ..., Rod'899kT, Sat, 15 Jan 2005 17:24:50
  • IIf you're in my neighborhood..., Viggenator , Sat, 15 Jan 2005 15:21:21
    • rural; turning into suburban... no sidewalks., JimBlake , Mon, 17 Jan 2005 13:46:48
    • rural to semi-rural with ditches, kaslop, Sat, 15 Jan 2005 16:38:55
  • Honestly I think a lot of it is distraction, NateinAA, Sat, 15 Jan 2005 14:48:44
    • Re: Honestly I think a lot of it is distraction, s.martin, Sat, 15 Jan 2005 15:34:34

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