Good comparisons here. To me, though, no one’s really driving thinking of the local vehicle code about exactly when to yield. Rather, people drive with the perception of the consequences forefront in their minds. “Drive to close to the curb? Oh I might scratch my rims.” “Hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk? Oh I could lose my license and go to jail!”
Except in the US, compared to countries you mentioned like Denmark, drivers rarely face legal consequences for threatening pedestrians in crosswalks. US drivers know that the consequences *after* any potential pedestrian collision would favor the driver. I think this is the crucial difference compared to true Vision Zero countries.
Growing up in the US, it has been very illuminating to travel internationally. The value of human life is much lower than a car in most of the US, and that's absolutely the case in Rio de Janiero. Cars WILL run you over if you don't run out of their way.
Rome is like that at night, but not during the day.
Good comparisons here. To me, though, no one’s really driving thinking of the local vehicle code about exactly when to yield. Rather, people drive with the perception of the consequences forefront in their minds. “Drive to close to the curb? Oh I might scratch my rims.” “Hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk? Oh I could lose my license and go to jail!”
Except in the US, compared to countries you mentioned like Denmark, drivers rarely face legal consequences for threatening pedestrians in crosswalks. US drivers know that the consequences *after* any potential pedestrian collision would favor the driver. I think this is the crucial difference compared to true Vision Zero countries.
Growing up in the US, it has been very illuminating to travel internationally. The value of human life is much lower than a car in most of the US, and that's absolutely the case in Rio de Janiero. Cars WILL run you over if you don't run out of their way.
Rome is like that at night, but not during the day.