tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post7238560807751893758..comments2024-03-25T17:49:41.408-07:00Comments on Salem Breakfast on Bikes: Driver Strikes and Kills Marlene Moreno in Downtown CrosswalkSalem Breakfast on Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15618055627843335993noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-39522896641940082282021-07-06T07:32:45.942-07:002021-07-06T07:32:45.942-07:00Anon, the police report disclosed the name of the ...Anon, the police report disclosed the name of the driver. That is customary. "Erasing the driver" is about the grammatical function of ascribing agency to the car, whose driver is later named as if they were only peripherally involved. It is a way to make driving more innocent so we do not blame drivers when there is no extraordinary negligence - the rhetoric of "accident" - even when they are the ones employing lethal speed and force, and are responsible for the safe operation of a motor vehicle.Salem Breakfast on Bikeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618055627843335993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666195730630249633.post-52289126855056718592021-07-05T09:55:12.566-07:002021-07-05T09:55:12.566-07:00I find it surprising that there is no Walk/Don'...I find it surprising that there is no Walk/Don't Walk signal at the crosswalk. I also wonder whether a "no left turn on red" freestanding sign coupled with a small sign attached to the traffic signal is in order. Even though that movement is legal I assume that in certain situations it can be curtailed. This might be one of those situations and the recent incident will surely bring the intersection to the attention of Public Works. <br /><br />As to identifying the driver, I am not sure that the potential benefits of creating the fear that a driver would be identified in a case like this would make anyone safer. If the driver acted negligently, as seems likely, then he should be held accountable. Most likely he feels horrible about the loss of life and that will be a punishment that never goes away. <br /><br />Another pedestrian accident that I am familiar with lacked public identification of the driver (as far as I could tell) but the more disturbing aspect in that case was the lack of reporting on the way it happened and how road design may have played a part.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com