Dear People Who Moved Here from California: (Austin, Orange: live, license plates)

[DianeV]

Thanks, CaptnRn. I figured. Something like "vehicular manslaughter".

[ScoPro]

Maybe we ought to get Sammy Allred to weigh in on the topic.

[texastrigirl]

Actually, they are not from CA, they are from Seattle. That's how it works here. Cars will come to a screeching halt so that people can cross anywhere and everywhere...about causing an accident every single time. Drivers here are almost overly polite at times. So much so that PEMCO insurance has adverstisements built around it.

[kiacook]

Somewhat similar topic: I was driving west on Southwest Parkway this afternoon in the left hand lane and saw a teeeeny, tiny little fawn in the median. He started out into the road and I braked heavily and came to a stop while he was crossing because there was no where to swerve to - cars a ways behind and in the next lane. A car behind me swerved into the middle lane and zoomed past me almost nailing the fawn, but by then the fawn was running and narrowly made it to the other side.

I know i probably almost caused an accident stopping in the middle of a 55 MPH road, but what is the right thing to do in that situation? I just couldn't plow through that little guy!

[DianeV]

'Tis my point, kiacook.

Don't get me wrong; I don't think people should constantly walk across heavily-trafficked roads except where they're supposed to (that is, crosswalks). But stuff happens.

[TexasGuy22]

op sounds like he is just sick and tired of seeing californians, please tell me you have never seen a Texan drive like this

[eichlerfan]

Originally Posted by austinrebel

In Texas we only have to yield to pedestrians at the crosswalk. If you stop your car in the middle of the street to let a pedestrian cross you are going to get rear-ended some day.

And this has to do with all CA drivers rather than the individual driver you are talking about because....?

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by someguyatx

In a residential area the rules are different but in a city pedestrians should use crosswalks and follow signals. I will be the first to honk at a moron on foot running across the road or the moron who stopped to let them cross.

Oh..we also don't beep horns in Texas

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by austinrebel

In Texas we only have to yield to pedestrians at the crosswalk. If you stop your car in the middle of the street to let a pedestrian cross you are going to get rear-ended some day.

pedestrians always have the right of way when they are already in the street. Obviously they are supposed to yield to cars, but if they dont then they have right of way

552.003. PEDESTRIAN RIGHT-OF-WAY AT CROSSWALK. (a) The
operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian
crossing a roadway in a crosswalk if:
(1) no traffic control signal is in place or in
operation; and
(2) the pedestrian is:
(A) on the half of the roadway in which the
vehicle is traveling; or
(B) approaching so closely from the opposite half
of the roadway as to be in danger.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a pedestrian may not
suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and proceed into a
crosswalk in the path of a vehicle so close that it is impossible
for the vehicle operator to yield.
(c) The operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear of a
vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to
cross a roadway may not pass the stopped vehicle.

Read more: Answers.com - What is the Texas Law for yielding to a pedestrian

[TexasGirl@Heart]

Originally Posted by austinrebel

In Texas we only have to yield to pedestrians at the crosswalk. If you stop your car in the middle of the street to let a pedestrian cross you are going to get rear-ended some day.

And,you would be held liable for rear ending someone! Pedestrians ALWAYS have the right away. They might be idiots and not crossing where they are supposed to be crossing, but that doesn't mean someone should not brake when a pedestrian walks out in front of them.

I would rather brake for a pedestrian and have you rear end me rather than hit a pedestrian with my car when it could have been avoided. I don't need vehicular manslaughter or paralyzing someone on my conscience.