Crosswalk Buttons
Do those buttons at crosswalks that you’re supposed to push when the light is red really do any more than instill a false sense of complacency in those who don’t jaywalk?
———- from Michael Newman of Columbus, OH
They also induce a false sense of complacency in the drivers of cars within a range of fifty yards or so. Suddenly, these drivers are convinced that if they do hit a pedestrian, there will be no lasting effect from the impact and they will merely be sending a “strong message” to pedestrians to stay out of the way. Much in the way we sent a “strong message” to Iraq during the Gulf war, or the way the judicial system is sending a “strong message” to teenagers through mandatory sentencing for violating our repressive drug laws. So go ahead, push the button, but don’t expect that it changes anything.
They also induce a false sense of complacency in the drivers of cars within a range of fifty yards or so. Suddenly, these drivers are convinced that if they do hit a pedestrian, there will be no lasting effect from the impact and they will merely be sending a “strong message” to pedestrians to stay out of the way. Much in the way we sent a “strong message” to Iraq during the Gulf war, or the way the judicial system is sending a “strong message” to teenagers through mandatory sentencing for violating our repressive drug laws. So go ahead, push the button, but don’t expect that it changes anything. 