It's Not About the Hands

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Today the LA Times reports on a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute that shows no difference in crash rates following the adoption of California's hand-held cellphone ban. The results have been dismissed by some because of a small sample size (not to mention the fact that just because the law has been adopted, doesn't mean everyone is following it). However, many see the study as further evidence that the true danger of cell phones doesn't come from the way that they are held, but from how they are used while driving.


My personal efforts to give up the distracted driving habit are entering their second week, and so far so good. I admit to having a few moments of "Drat [or other, more forceful, curse word]! I really wish I could use my phone right now," but overall giving up the cell phone hasn't caused as much pain as I expected. The true test comes this weekend, when I have a two-hour drive to San Diego. Alone.

This Week on Foot

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This week the Toronto community continues to stew over a recent uptick in pedestrian deaths. A myriad of potential solutions, theories, and general ranting abound, with Officers out in force to warn, ticket pedestrians, while CBC offers an idea of How pedestrians, cyclists and drivers can get along a little better. One author looks at How Poisson would explain pedestrian deaths, while another just laments the Shell shock and paralysis the whole situation has caused.

Perhaps Toronto can look to Latvia, where Slesers suggests make pedestrian mall in Latvian capital’s downtown, or even the small Washington town of Cheney, where Railroad crossing improvements OK'd: Cheney council approves better pedestrian access

Just as long as they don't follow New York's example. In that city Besides pedestrians, New York City streets are safer for drivers, passengers and bicyclists

Or, it would seem, Ohio: Lottery winner dies after being struck by car

Road Rage Rapper Defends Himself

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As reported today in the LA Times, Swedish rapper David Jassy continues to insist that his November 2008 killing of a pedestrian in Hollywood was motivated by "fear." The confrontation with John Osnes began when Osnes banged the front of Jassy's SUV after Jassy nearly hit him while he was crossing (in a crosswalk) the Sunset Strip.

It ended when, after a tussle between the two men, Jassy ran over Osnes with his vehicle. Jassy explained, "I was in fear for my life. I didn't know if he had a gun, a knife. I know L.A. is way more dangerous than Sweden is."

Apparently so.

Cool Ped Stuff #5: Music Videos

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This Week on Foot

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This weeks brings some interesting innovations in pedestrian safety.

In New York City Coming Soon: Ped-Friendly “Urban Umbrellas” for NYC Sidewalks will help protect pedestrians from falling debris during the construction without forcing them to walk through dark and unattractive sidewalk "sheds."

And then there's Mercedes Developing 'Auto-Swerve' For Pedestrian Safety. As expected from the catchy name, the new device would identify potential pedestrian conflicts and automatically swerve to avoid them.

We can try to improve vehicle safety, but it's going to be hard to fight mother nature. Can pedestrian deaths be blamed on warm weather? Officials in Toronto seem to think so.

Snow can also be a challenge, as we saw this week in New Hampshire where Snowplow driver in NH cited for hitting pedestrian

Or maybe it's just those dangerous pedestrians--like the one in Sweden, where a Swedish rapper argues self-defense in murder case.

It makes you wonder, Will pedestrians ever be safer on our mean streets?