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[alcina2]

As a British person, who's wondered for years what 'jaywalking' is (we don't use the word here in the UK) could you use this comM to enlighten me? My Year 5 (Sixth grade) teacher told me it meant walking diagonally across the road. Is that right?

Comments

[saralogan]

It's when you walk across the street any time or place you shouldn't such as when you have the Don't Walk signal, or if you cross in the middle of a block rather than at a crosswalk.

[alcina2]

Ah. Thanks.

So why is it spoken of as a bad thing?

I've always considered it bloody selfish to press the button on a crossing and stop the traffic if you can cross without doing so. In heavy traffic, sure, or if you're elderly/disabled, but for an able bodied person to stop the traffic at a crossing is anti-social.

[saralogan]

The logic is that if you cross when the traffic isn't stopped you risk being hit by a car. But you also risk being hit by a car if you're just walking down the sidewalk because someone could go crazy and just drive all over the place. I've come close to being ticketed for it, and I know tons of people who have been ticketed for it. It's such a stupid law.

[alcina2]

It's illegal where you are???111 What country do you live in?

[pepperjackcandy]

Jaywalking = crossing outside of a crosswalk when one is available and/or crossing against the traffic signal.

[unperfectwolf]

Axctually breaking the law! Here in seattle we actually get ticketed for it! Jeff Foxworthy says you know it's the pacific northwest when it's pouring down rain and the middle of the night and there's no one else around and you still wait for the sign to turn.

[violin_road]

They said they were going to start ticketing in Chicago, but I jaywalk right in front of cop cars all the time and nothing ever comes of it :(

[talec18415]

*jaywalks in front of pre_emptive*

[ladycyndra]

*joins*