To the editor:
In his column of July 29, [Pedestrians Have the Right of Way at All Intersections, Kelowna Capital News] Paul Hergott makes a number of points regarding the interaction between pedestrians and drivers. In particular, he focuses on the not-well-known fact that every intersection is a legal crosswalk, not just those with painted crosswalks.
It is worth mentioning several other important legal points as spelled out clearly in Section 179 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act. To paraphrase, they are as follows:
• A driver is required to stop for any pedestrian who is in a crosswalk, provided that the pedestrian is on the same side of the road as the driver. Conversely, a driver is NOT required to stop for a pedestrian who is not on the driver's side of the road (unless the pedestrian is closely approaching the driver's side of the road).
• The pedestrian must set foot on the roadway, in order to require the driver to stop and give way. Conversely, the driver is NOT required to stop for a pedestrian who is waiting on the curb and has not stepped down onto the roadway.
• A pedestrian must not leave a curb and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close it is impracticable for the driver to yield the right of way.
Robert Wilson, Kelowna