Essay on a Rage Between the Motorist and the Pedestrians

Over the years in the United States of America, there has been a rage between the motorist and the pedestrians. The fury between drivers and pedestrians has led to conflict and controversies on who should take the lead. The US government should get rid of the law that yields pedestrians the right of way over motorists because most of them take advantage of the privilege and a times slow down on the crosswalks causing jam and delays to the drivers due to the right they have. Similarly, they often do this irritating actions of slowing down, and when they are knocked, they want to be compensated for an issue that they are to blame. In this regard, the best thing they ought to do is to exercise rationality and give way to others in the shortest time possible. The most paramount reason the pedestrians should not be yielded the right of way anymore is that of the negligence they have portrayed on the crosswalks. On the contrary, the US government should pass a law that gives way to the pedestrians unlike the motorists this is because the foot travelers need protection and have much liability and cannot cause more harm as compared to the drivers. The reason as to why the government should enforce a law supporting the pedestrians to be given way is because of the violation that has always been experienced by motorists. Majority of drivers do not yield to the right of way over pedestrians, and most of them are hit and knocked down, and on the extreme case, they are killed by speeding motor vehicles who do not want to give way. If the law does not protect the pedestrians, then they will suffer in the hands of reckless and don't care drivers who are always not considerate of the foot walkers. Nationwide especially in the state of Florida, the US government should revoke the rights that yield pedestrians any right of way over any motorized vehicles.

It is important to note that the government should revoke the rights that pedestrians have the over way because the privilege has been abused and they have frustrated the motorists. In Florida regardless of the substantial fines and penalties imposed on those caught in road rage pedestrians on the crosswalks have made some drivers to pay hefty penalties because of the arrogant behaviors they portray on the road (Edgar, 7). For instance, a pedestrian sees an oncoming vehicle and instead of clearing the way in the shortest time they drag because they know they have right over any motorist. It is an action that anyone can get infuriated including the pedestrians themselves if they were in the same position as the motorists (Edgar, 10). As a result of the rudeness depicted by the walker's drivers who are not patient enough can run over them (Houten, 41). The law was put in place to help in safeguarding the interests of the pedestrians, but instead of it being beneficial it has caused trouble to other road users in this regard it should be abolished. A good example is a case that occurred in Florida in 2013 where a senior woman wanted to pass by a slow moving vehicle, and she was knocked down (Houten, & Malenfant, 351). It is an incident that would have been avoided but because of the right of way that pedestrians have the woman disrespected the motorist who was blamed for injuring the old woman. If it were not in favor of the pedestrian, then the mess would not have occurred.

The government should change the law because it has been misused and has caused more harm than good to the society. The most important reason why the pedestrians should not be yielded the right over way is that the safety of other road users has been compromised and instead of others suffering then the law should be abolished, and laws are outlining due diligence of any road user to be enforced (Houten, & Malenfant, 355). Furthermore, the government should repeal the bill because it has led to several losses on the motorists who are forced to pay fines because they have knocked down or injured a negligent pedestrian who takes advantage of the laws protecting them.

On the contrary, the government should not abolish the law because it has been protecting the pedestrians from arrogant and rude motorists who always want to have their way. In areas where the law does not protect the pedestrian they are still knocked down injured or killed (Speck, 163). In Florida, for instance, police report cases where the motorist hit pedestrians and run away so that they are not liable for the offense. When they are hunted down, they give an excuse to get away with the crime and regardless of the fines and penalties they pay the harm will have already taken place (Rinaldi, 13). Additionally, the government ought to protect the pedestrians and not abolish the law because most of them do not have any way to defend themselves on the roads except to depend on the law of the land, unlike the motorist who can commit an offense and run away from liability (Rinaldi, 13). When a pedestrian is wounded, they might get lifetime damages that are incorrigible and some end up being lame others leaving dependents who are left unattended to in case of death. Those who are left behind become a burden in case of permanent disability.

Moreover, the government should not abolish the law, especially in Florida because of the cases concerning motorists who are arrogant. They have caused rage on the roads to the extent of following other road users to their homes or alighting from their vehicles with dangerous weapons ready to kill or cause harm (Speck, 167). It is in this case that the law protects the pedestrians and if not protected they might end up suffering from ruthless motorists

In conclusion, it is important to note that road rage in the United States of America has been an issue of concern and a solution is not to establish more harm will be experienced. On the one hand, the motorists are right, and on the other, the pedestrians are equally correct. An issue of concern is the lack of exercising due diligence on the roads because if it is practiced, then the rage issues will be minimal. It is paramount to note that the law that gives the pedestrian the right of way over the motorists should be abolished because it is the primary cause of rage. In Florida, the law should not provide the pedestrians with the right of way because they have misused it and caused delays and traffic jams on the roads.

Works cited

Edgar, Herwick Who Has The Right Of Way In A Crosswalk (It Is Not As Simple As You Think) retrieved from https://news.wgbh.org/2016/06/08/local-news/who-has-right-way-crosswalk-its-not-simple-you-think (2016)

Houten, Ron, and J. E. Malenfant. "Effects of a driver enforcement program on yielding to pedestrians." Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 37.3 (2004): 351-363.

Rinaldi, Brill Road Rage In Florida retrieved from https://forpeopleforjustice.com/road-rage-in-florida/ (2015)

Speck, Jeff. Walkable city: how downtown can save America, one step at a time. macmillan, 2013.

Sullman, Mark JM. "The expression of anger on the road." Safety science 72 (2015): 153-159.

Van Houten, Ron, et al. "Effects of high-visibility enforcement on driver compliance with pedestrian yield right-of-way laws." Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2393 (2013): 41-49.