Hit a pedestrian.... yet?

I was driving my Prius yesterday in a parking lot when a woman nearly walked into the side of my car! I kept expecting her to stop (as the front of my car was already past her). I now realize that part of the problem was that she probably couldn't hear the Prius at all. However, I still don't understand how someone can quickly step off a curb without looking ahead at all.

 

Aw man, thanks for reminding me, I've meant to hit a couple pedestrians by now! Little old ladys, LOOK OUT

 

Second day we had ours we had a good opportunity to run down two people in a parking lot. They just strolled along in front of us without any idea we were following them in stealth mode. I would have taken them out, but we hadn't put on a good coat of wax and I was afraid I would stain the front bumper.

Tom

 

As I see it we are more likely to kill them of a heart attack when they realize how close to a moving car they are than to actually hit them.

Back to that 70's show with David Hasselhoff, black car.......damn senility! Anyway, the horn is too extreme and sure to knock them over but if we could just have that voice come out of the vehicle...... "Excuse me, coming through..."

 

Ahh, so many pedestrians so little time.....

 

The good news is that according to EuroNCAP. the EU's version of NHTSA, at least you will do less damage to pedestrians in your Prius than in most other cars. It appears that they rate car safety not only for injury to passengers in crashes but also damage done to the incidental pedestrian that you might hit

 

While this may not be the case with the incidents discussed here... I would ask that everyone keep in mind that pedestrians do have the right of way (assuming, of course, that they are crossing legally). And even if they don't have the legal right of way...cut them some slack - they're using an even greener form of transportation!

 

Just instal a small outside speaker that announces, "Landshark" h34r:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gnagel @ Apr 24 2006, 07:33 AM) [snapback]244230[/snapback]</div>

I'm astonished by the number of people who walk right out of the door of a store who just step off the curb without bothering to see if there are cars coming from either direction. Same with people who are crossing at a traffic signal in a crosswalk-as soon as the 'Walk' sign flashes on, they start walking, again without bothering to check to make sure approaching vehicles are stopping or stopped. I see it happen on a daily basis, usually several times a day.

But perhaps I'm just overly cautious- I was raised to look both ways before stepping out into vehicular traffic, whether it be a street or a parking lot.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Emma @ Apr 24 2006, 11:29 AM) [snapback]244280[/snapback]</div>

Three cheers for Emma! Pedestrians are greener than you (sorry, us ) smug Prius owners! So stay out of their way!

 

Ingrates! Those peds that look at me with annoyance for having my stereo up don't realize that i'm trying to keep them safe

 

THere's a video out there. somewhere, of a woman killed by a train as she was apparently thinking about other things than if a train was roaring up next to her. All I ever see on TV is her ABOUT to be killed.

I believe my tires make enough noise to be heard, but not if someone isn't paying attention...

 

How does hitting a pedestrian impact MPG?

 

I am not proud of it but I scared a blind person. I was a bit surprised that she did not hear me because some noise is made by the car but I guess there was enough other traffic she did not hear me. I was in stealth mode gliding at the speed limit or just below, about 30. She was standing at the corner waiting to cross and was right at the curb. It is a four lane street. But not much traffic in the curb lane. I glided past her and I guess she felt the draft of my passing because she jumped back and looked surprised. Next time a see a blind person at a corner I will goose it and get the ICE started to make a bit of noise. It is amazing to me how many people just listen for cars and not use their eyes. It has cause me to change my habits. I look around a lot more than I did in the past.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hdrygas @ Apr 24 2006, 01:43 PM) [snapback]244385[/snapback]</div>

I hope I've quoted you out of context, hdrygas, because this doesn't sound very good. To be fair, you did say you have become a better driver.

I think the horn can be effective in these situations. If the person has the right of way, stopping might be a good idea, too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AlphaTeam @ Apr 24 2006, 12:24 PM) [snapback]244370[/snapback]</div>

Depends on how far you drag him . . . .

 

I have the same problem when bicycling in the city.