• resipsaloquitur@lemmy.world
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      17 days ago

      I mean, not really. It was a concerted effort by American automobile manufacturers to clear the roads of people so cars were supreme and they could sell more cars. As well as to shift blame onto victims for “accidents.”

      Most other countries haven’t picked up this attitude.

      Least of all Japan, where side-streets mix pedestrian, vehicle, and bicycle traffic freely. Granted, freeways don’t allow people and larger roads have pedestrian overpasses.

      • RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz
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        17 days ago

        Many countries make you use the crossroad or under/overpass if one exists for traffic safety reasons but the effect is the same.

        • resipsaloquitur@lemmy.world
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          17 days ago

          I never said countries don’t have crosswalks. Just that crossing outside of them is either de jure or de facto legal.

          • RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz
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            17 days ago

            Not the case in many countries because of traffic safety. It’s safer to cross from a pedestrian crossing or under/overpass. Sentiment isn’t the same but the effect is.

    • Darren@sopuli.xyz
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      17 days ago

      I can only speak for the UK, but it’s not a thing over here. We can cross where we please, as long as we’re not putting ourselves or others in danger. And even if we are we wouldn’t get much, or any, police intervention. Motorists would call us a wanker, but that would be about it.