Crossing The Road
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Getting from one side of the road to the other is very important, since you would really be missing out on a lot of things if you only stayed on the side of the road where you're house is. For most people, "the shops" are invariably on the other side of the road, and round the corner.
It is also very important in this age of automobiles that you take care while walking across any surface that cars travel on. You are made of a soft outer covering, with a rigid but easily breakage endoskeleton. A car weighs a mighty lot more thatn you, and is made of very tough and hard metal through and through. It also travels faster than you could ever possibly run, and will not be greatly harmed if it were to collide with you. I will not even start to mention what lorries can do to you.
SO:
Crossing at A Traffic Light
This is fairly safe, as long as you are not colour-blind, or cannot tell the difference between a walking man and a standing man. When the green man appears, you may safely proceed, though do look first just to be on the safe side.
In America, the instructions "WALK" or "DONT WALK" will appear on the opposite sign. This is easy to understand, unless you can't read English, in which case you are buggered.
Crossing at a Pedestrian Crossing
In England, a pedestrian crossing is indicated by alternating black and white stripes on the ground, along with poles that have a flashing light at the top. It is in the Highway Code that a car must stop for you if you are at the edge of the pavement waiting to cross, but some motorists seem to believe that they are above the law, and will go by without stopping. When someone does stop for you, you may cross the road.
Crossing in the Middle of the Road (Jay-Walking)
Since there are no traffic lights or flashing posts to help you cross, you must use your own discretion. Take a look to the direction of the oncoming cars (to your right if you live in Britain). Judging the speed and distance of an oncoming car is vital - if you start to cross when a car to too close and coming too fast, there may not be time to step back or lunge forward. This is especially vital if it is a multi-lane road. Once you have crossed one direction of traffic it it time to look to the other side. You may be stuck in the middle which is unpleasent if there is no median to stand on. Again, cross when the oncoming cars are a safe distance away.
It is also very important in this age of automobiles that you take care while walking across any surface that cars travel on. You are made of a soft outer covering, with a rigid but easily breakage endoskeleton. A car weighs a mighty lot more thatn you, and is made of very tough and hard metal through and through. It also travels faster than you could ever possibly run, and will not be greatly harmed if it were to collide with you. I will not even start to mention what lorries can do to you.
SO:
Crossing at A Traffic Light
This is fairly safe, as long as you are not colour-blind, or cannot tell the difference between a walking man and a standing man. When the green man appears, you may safely proceed, though do look first just to be on the safe side.
In America, the instructions "WALK" or "DONT WALK" will appear on the opposite sign. This is easy to understand, unless you can't read English, in which case you are buggered.
Crossing at a Pedestrian Crossing
In England, a pedestrian crossing is indicated by alternating black and white stripes on the ground, along with poles that have a flashing light at the top. It is in the Highway Code that a car must stop for you if you are at the edge of the pavement waiting to cross, but some motorists seem to believe that they are above the law, and will go by without stopping. When someone does stop for you, you may cross the road.
Crossing in the Middle of the Road (Jay-Walking)
Since there are no traffic lights or flashing posts to help you cross, you must use your own discretion. Take a look to the direction of the oncoming cars (to your right if you live in Britain). Judging the speed and distance of an oncoming car is vital - if you start to cross when a car to too close and coming too fast, there may not be time to step back or lunge forward. This is especially vital if it is a multi-lane road. Once you have crossed one direction of traffic it it time to look to the other side. You may be stuck in the middle which is unpleasent if there is no median to stand on. Again, cross when the oncoming cars are a safe distance away.
