In the UK, the Highway Code relies on pedestrians to make their own judgment on whether it’s safe to cross the road or not, and so American’s ‘jaywalking’ laws always seemed a bit weird and unnecessary.
Well it looks as though it may have been there for a good reason because since California legalised jaywalking, their pedestrian fatality rate has risen 25% above the national average.
In 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom proudly signed the Freedom to Walk Act, which was hailed by the Washington Post as a “social justice victory”, arguing that jaywalking allowed police to harass minorities for crossing the road.
Despite this perceived progressiveness, the LAPD reported earlier this month that California’s pedestrian fatality rate is 25% above the national average and nearly 3/4 of the pedestrian deaths inside the city this year have been potential jaywalkers.
So now obviously the whole issue is more politicised than ever, with Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney John McKinney telling Fox News that “legalising jaywalking is a clear example of California Democrats’ reckless disregard for public safety. Like so much of their legislation, this bill put Californians in danger in pursuit of a radical agenda to eliminate consequences for breaking the law.”
Earlier today, @LAPDVTD addressed road safety. YTD in 2023, there’s been 26 pedestrian-related fatalities, 19 due to unsafe crossings. CA’s pedestrian fatality rate was 25% above the national average. We’re committed to safer roads through driver-pedestrian collaboration. pic.twitter.com/Igc8jPzUYQ
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) August 7, 2023
Both sides at least seem to agree that saving lives is the priority, and so California politicians are now working on a bill that would lead to the installation of traffic cameras that would automatically ticket drivers going at least 11mph over the speed limit.
A traffic safety nonprofit representative told the NY Times:
“It’s not going to solve everything, but we need all the tools we can get. It’s quite truthfully, at this point, a public health crisis.”
Of course, even this new proposed bill is causing a political fallout, with concerns that these cameras will also unfairly target minorities. The advocacy director at an Oakland nonprofit told the San Francisco Chronicle that such cameras had a history of “disproportionately impacting lower-income communities of color.”
So in the end, it sounds as though Californians are just going to have master the art of crossing the road without being obliterated by passing car. Stand on the pavement, look both ways, etc. It’s going to take some getting used to for our friends across the Pond. They’ll work it out eventually.
For a look at the world’s first flying car which is now accepting pre-orders for the low price of £236,000, click HERE.
