Drivers can be careless. But when it comes to pedestrians and crosswalks, some just don’t understand. Some pedestrians feel privileged. They can step off the sidewalk without a care in the world.

Weren’t we taught to stop and look both ways before crossing the street? But they’re special. They expect us to come to a screeching halt because they have an assumed right without any consequences. Surprise. What if we can’t stop in time? Now it’s our fault!

Crosswalks at traffic signals present another problem. There is a false sense that the flashing numbers mean a person has that much time left to step off the sidewalk and cross the street. It doesn’t. Note the flashing hand next to the numbers. That means stay put till the next cycle. It is our turn to proceed. When you cross at that point you infringe on our time. We waited for you, now you wait for us.

Dennis “D.J.” Freitas

Kaneohe

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