Prompt Cast
The History and Controversy of Jaywalking Laws
TLDR The invention of cars led to the creation of laws regarding pedestrian behavior and car-pedestrian accidents. Jaywalking laws, which restrict where pedestrians can cross the street, emerged as a result of tension between car drivers and pedestrians, and have been criticized for unfairly targeting people of color.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
J-Walking was created and criminalized by the automobile industry, and before cars existed, pedestrians could cross the street wherever they wanted.
02:31
J-Walking and J-Driving were both terms that emerged around the same time in the early 1900s, as a result of tension between car drivers and pedestrians.
04:58
J-walkers were initially called that as a derogatory term for pedestrians who got in the way of cars, and the automobile industry and local police forces launched a shame campaign against them, resulting in the creation of crosswalks and laws restricting where pedestrians could cross the street.
07:14
Cars quickly dominated streets after they were invented, leading to the creation of laws that varied by state and municipality regarding pedestrian behavior and who was at fault in car-pedestrian accidents.
10:09
Pedestrians have a responsibility to be cautious and not assume cars will stop, while drivers have a responsibility to be on the lookout for pedestrians and be cautious, as pedestrians are at a much higher risk of injury or death in car-pedestrian accidents.
12:30
Drivers have a responsibility to always look out for pedestrians, regardless of local laws, while pedestrians should never be distracted by their cell phones when crossing the street.
14:34
Jaywalking enforcement is often unfairly targeted towards people of color, which is not only unjust but also exacerbates the already problematic issue of ticketing for jaywalking.
Categories:
Society & Culture
