Child Killed Outside Disneyland
 

A 7 year old child was killed while walking in the crosswalk between Disneyland and his hotel tonight, several other family members are injured.

Be careful! California is full of drivers going too fast who never use their turn signals and are often talking on their cell phones. There are some dangerous crosswalks near Disneyland where drivers are blinded nearing sundown each day. Be alert! Just because the sign changes to "walk" doesn't mean you are safe.

What a horrible tragedy and a timely reminder to be careful wherever you are.

I have to say that speaking as a Pittsburgher, I've found in my travels to SF, LA, SD and Orange County in general, the drivers in CA are MUCH MUCH more respectful of pedestrians than in Pittsburgh or any big city I've visited recently.

That's a sad, sad story - but could have happened anywhere.

Indeed, this tragedy could have happened anywhere, the circumestances are unfortunately universal. Blinding sunlight angles happen everywhere on every sunny day -- my car was hit in such an incident in Boston in January.

It is a tragic story, but no need to slam Californians, who I have found to be skilled drivers (since there are so many cars and they spend so much time on the road I assumed).

It is sensational because a child lost their life, plus the location of Disneyland makes it a hot button, but pedestrian/car accidents happen all to often all over the country.

And in Florida just yesterday or the day before a woman was walking down the street in a small community with her toddler. The woman stopped for a moment to speak to a friend and the toddler continued behind the car of an old man backing out of his driveway who killed her. It only takes a second.

a 17-year old driver talking on his cell phone, driving a cadillac hits 6 pedestrians in a crosswalk?

Sadly yes, it could happen anywhere these days, I don't know when exactly it became a necessity for every 16 and 17 year old to have a car and a cell phone, but it certainly seems to be the case these days in California....raising the driving age to 18 would probably solve some of their traffic problem.

The article in the LA Times today does not mention a cell phone, so let's not make assumptions. The reason for the accident has not yet been determined, or at least not made public. It happened at 5:50pm when the possibility of being completely blinded by the sun is high.

The victims are reportedly from the Bay Area.

..and a 31 year old driver drove off the Morrison bridge in Portland this week while talking on her cell phone.

Inattention can cause accidents, no matter what the age of the driver or type of distraction.

Joe, actually I agree with you about raising the driving age to 18 (and didn't permit my daughter to drive until 18) but please know that this is NOT a California phenomenon.

I don't believe we need more laws to restrict people's use of phones in cars, for heaven's sake, we have enough laws. I just wish we had more common sense.

Here in Orlando, I think we have the highest number of pedestrian deaths...I had to drive down International Drive a few weeks ago which is where many tourists stay...and although I know many of these accidents are strictly the driver's fault, I was surprised to see how many people just step out in front of traffic. You literally have to swerve to miss them. They do not look at the walk signs, jaywalk, and they assume that you see them and that you can and will just stop. I think alot of people think simply crossing a street is a no brainer, but you have to be aware. We also don't yield to them here like on other cities. When I was in Vancouver for example which is very pedestrian oriented, they do stop for you and it is a whole different atmosphere. The bad driving, careless walking, and "must get there quick" attitude is a deadly combination.

This is a true tragedy.

However, this type of accident can - and does - happen in many other states other than California, so I think the "dig" on us drivers in California is more than a bit unfair.

As of this morning, there has been no determination of what caused the accident. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be involved. And there has been absolutely no mention of the young driver using a cell phone. Exactly where do people get their notions from!?!? We are not even certain if the people crossing the street were crossing with or against the light, either. Until the final investigation comes in, we simply do not know what/how this accident was caused.

And let's face it. The young man was driving a Cadillac sedan. Not exactly the car of choice for most 17 year old males, huh? Probably his parent's car, I would say? And what would one more year add to his experience? I've had my license since I was 16 and guess when I was involved in my first accident? Yup. At 18. (Not my fault, either)

And as to the cell phone phenomenan? I find older drivers (30 and above) to be FAR more likely to drive eratically and dangerously while yakking on a cell phone than any teenager. Oh, and this happens in ALL states - not just California.

This accident just goes to show that all individual (drivers and pedestrians) must be cautious and alert at all times, everywhere.

A word of warning to all drivers who visit California!

Be careful! California is full of pedestrians who, because pedestrians have the right of way in CA think they can walk straight into a crosswalk without looking for oncoming traffic, who never wait for signals to change and are often talking on their cell phones. There are some dangerous crosswalks near Disneyland where drivers are blinded nearing sundown each day. Be alert! Just because the light changes to "green" doesn't mean you are safe.

Californians do not use their turn signal until after they've practically completed their merge into the next lane. I've never seen this elsewhere but maybe it's become rampant nationwide.

My 70something aunt was struck by a car driven by a 17 year old a week ago last Thursday while leaving a wake in a very small town in southern Illinois (hence my post looking for motel info near St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis Co.) While I haven't been able to find out exactly what happened, what I've been told so far suggests that it was a combination of her stepping out and his being distracted. This is just another example of the fact that these things happen everywhere, all the time. We all need to make a conscious effort to be more careful, less distracted. Whether we're walking or driving.

tracys2cents ~ do you just have a thing against drivers in California or what?? I have driven in California ever since I was 16 (I'm now in my mid-40s), and I do use my turn signals. I know of other California drivers who do the same. And then I know of some who don't or use them rarely. And you know what? It's the same in other states as well. (Yeah, I've driven in other states as well)

You really have to be careful when you make generalizations about people. You will always be proven false.

Besides, has it occured to you that, since most people in California came from somewhere else, the majority of drivers here learned to drive somewhere else?

I agree with Chele - gross generalizations are unfair. There are bad drivers in every state, not just California (and I'm not from California). Bottom line - everyone needs to be careful, whether they are walking, driving, flying, riding a horse, or anything. Just use your head and watch out for the other guy, because he/she may not be watching out for you.

And that goes for everybody!

One of the things I don;t get - being a New Yorker is this right on red. Why not just ban it everywhere? (It's bad enough here with some of the cab drivers who don't understand they need to stop for pedestrians when turning.)

Where right on red is allowed many drivers seem to think they can simply turn whenever they want - regardless of pedestrians - or traffic on the cross-street - and don;t understand the concept of stop and look - or who has right of way.

tracy2cents- I don't understand you using this opportunity to crusade against California drivers. Not to mention I happen to disagree and think generally speaking they ARE a skilled bunch, because they are a state of drivers.

nytravelers- when you have always had right-on-red as a law it really isn't a big deal and does not lead to people who <turn whenever then want>.

If any of you who are bad mouthing california drivers travel down to LA, you would be surprised that there arn't THAT many accidents for the amount of cars that drive the streets and freeways every day. The CA drivers are used to traffic and it has been said that LA drivers are some of the safest drivers because of this.

While we're generalizing here:

I'm more worried about soccer moms in their HUGE sports utes (do 2 kids really require a Ford Excursion?) while talking on their cellphones AND trying to navigate the city's interstate! Terrible!!