New laws go into effect today, including the one that requires drivers to stop when a person shows intent to cross the street at a crosswalk. People do not always realize this, but crosswalks are both painted and unmarked. A crosswalk is implied at every intersection.
Here is some of the legal language: A person is crossing the roadway when “the pedestrian (1) is within any portion of the crosswalk, (2) steps to the curb at the entrance to the crosswalk and indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by raising his or her hand and arm toward oncoming traffic, or (3) indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by moving any part of his or her body or an extension thereof, including, but not limited to, a wheelchair, cane, walking stick, crutch, bicycle, electric bicycle, stroller, carriage, cart or leashed or harnessed dog, into the crosswalk at the entrance to the crosswalk. No operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear shall overtake and pass any vehicle, the operator of which has stopped at any crosswalk”
See those words “BUT NOT LIMITED TO”? That’s key.
Signal with your umbrella. Signal with your shovel. Signal with the rock you carry in your purse.
Signal with your rage. Signal with your exhaustion from being dehumanized with beg buttons and construction signs blocking sidewalks. Signal with the indignation that comes when acquaintances joke about mowing down pedestrians because they’re late and we’re obstacles.
Personally, I’ll be signaling with my phone, which will have video recording on.
Richard
I will signal but will they stop? Do they know this new law? After they mow me down then can justice be served. Going to be extra careful trying to get across the street as some of these fools could care less about laws. You forgot one way of signaling, with a bazooka! I loved the rock in your purse.
Richard
Here is a good one. Try to signal for cars to stop on the Silas Deane Highway, to cross over to the Wethersfield Shopping Center. HA!!! No one in any of those cars even heard of this law as not one car in either direction made any effort to stop and I wasn’t about to step out in that traffic even if I had the law on my side.
Kerri Provost
I tested this out yesterday on Park Street on a driver who 100% should have been aware of the new law: a cop. I made a very clear hand signal and began to cross. The officer did not slow or stop his vehicle until my body was fully in front of it. The lights and sirens were not on, so there was no excuse. This was during day-time. My actions were predictable. So…right now, I’m not impressed if this is how someone in charge of enforcing the new law treats the law.