that the law only requires vehicles to stop for pedestrians already in the crosswalk
Where I live it’s different. If someone wants to cross at a crosswalk, they have the right of way. If a child want’s to cross anywhere, they have the right of way. Not on freeway (Autobahn) or highway (Schnellstraße) of course.
Also there is the Vertrauensgrundsatz (trust principle?). If yo cannot trust someone to know the laws or follow the law (children, visibly under influence, …) treat them as such. Keep distance and keep slow, give right of way if necessary.
Obviously cars shouldn’t be going around hitting pedestrians, and we stop when we’re able. My problem is more with the lack of common sense. This dog park I mentioned is out in the country, people are driving their cars to bring their pets here so they obviously have some idea of the time it takes for a car to stop. So why are they walking out from behind a fence and stepping directly into oncoming traffic without at least waiting for vehicle to see them and stop? Yes most people DO take this moment and are able to cross safely, but then you have someone who has no regard for their own safety and acts like they’re invincible.
Where I live it’s different. If someone wants to cross at a crosswalk, they have the right of way. If a child want’s to cross anywhere, they have the right of way. Not on freeway (Autobahn) or highway (Schnellstraße) of course.
Also there is the Vertrauensgrundsatz (trust principle?). If yo cannot trust someone to know the laws or follow the law (children, visibly under influence, …) treat them as such. Keep distance and keep slow, give right of way if necessary.
Obviously cars shouldn’t be going around hitting pedestrians, and we stop when we’re able. My problem is more with the lack of common sense. This dog park I mentioned is out in the country, people are driving their cars to bring their pets here so they obviously have some idea of the time it takes for a car to stop. So why are they walking out from behind a fence and stepping directly into oncoming traffic without at least waiting for vehicle to see them and stop? Yes most people DO take this moment and are able to cross safely, but then you have someone who has no regard for their own safety and acts like they’re invincible.