Legality aside, ain’t nobody got time for all that!
But if we really care and really wanted to draw attention to the problem, we should make the time. No?
We are busy to read here.
2 Likes
You actually showed amazing restraint. I would have charged the mofo. This is probably why I don’t have children.
1 Like
And it just keeps getting funnier every time I see it!
All the best.
-M
4 Likes
Not sure if I have much hope in things improving anytime soon. Lots of locals complain about it too but some of the people I see that complain about it do the the same thing or even worse.
Only seems to matter when friends/family are hurt or killed or a ‘tragedy’ occurs such as the couple of folks who died right before Chinese New Year (1 being a young girl who was engaged/getting ready to marry after Chinese New Year) and then the politicians come out beating their chests about new penalties and no one talks about education and enforcement of existing laws.
2 Likes
i dont think that would be an effective way to deal with it. the response would be something like, ok we changed the laws and pedestrians have right of way now (even though they already are like that) and nothing would be done to enforce it.
That proves their dumb idea of when you push the button on a crosswalk the pedestrian’s light turns red for a few minutes to let cars pass, and than turn green. Instead of turning the cars light red first to let pedestrians cross. 
4 Likes
Is it just me that thought the thread title is how do we make drivers yell at pedestrians at cross walks.
3 Likes
Yes. 
I make eye contact with the driver so he knows I mean business. And commit to crossing. I also prepare to jump of top of the hood and roll off Incase he or she means business from this game of chicken. So best keep a spring in your step if you do this.
5 Likes
Good advice, I’ll do exactly that from now on, but in the future I’ll have to put on my rollerblading protective gear every time I head outside.
Making eye contact and not yielding usually is enough. The front window isn’t tinted so it’s easy to do. People get weird when behind the wheel and part of the reason for this is anonymity (probably even more of the reason in Taiwan).
I’ve seen kids raise one arm when crossing. This also seems to do the trick but I couldn’t make myself do this.
2 Likes
Taiwan needs more speed cameras and red light cameras and they need to fine the shit out of anyone who goes through a red light or speeds. Like fines so large, that someone will start a thread here to complain about it. No one’s joy ride is more important than my family’s lives and we’ve had more than one close call crossing the street. And like OP said, enforce the “no turn on red” rule with much heftier fines. Put an extra zero on there, and have cameras watch for that too. I saw a lunatic turn LEFT on red the other day. Almost got hit as he did so.
4 Likes
I’ve often thought that they need to raise and lower big iron bars at the intersections, to keep drivers polite. Otherwise hire traffic cops from Singapore, and let them just cane erring drivers right there in the road.
4 Likes
a lot are. a lot will just ignore you too. pretending not to see you so they don’t need to deal with you is part of life here, driving, walking or other areas.
i think part of the problem is people- including the govt still think its part of drivers rights to act like they do have priority and they don’t consider how dangerous it actually is.
until they change this thinking they won’t put the cameras into use. it definitely would work though, its happening in china now apparently, dunno if its the reason why but i was there a month ago and people stopped and let people cross, with plenty of room too.
3 Likes
They’re taught to do this at school. I found out when my daughter and I were crossing the road and she just stepped out with her head down and arm raised. I got pretty angry with her for not looking right and left as she crossed and she said that her teacher had told her that if she raised her arm the cars will stop.
Hmmm.
3 Likes
I call this “The Magic Hand”. Many times the pedestrians are crossing illegally against the red light, but by putting up “The Magic Hand” will somehow protect them. Another part to this is the “Head Down Syndrome” postulate which dictates “If I don’t look at you, you can’t hit me!”
No, it doesn’t work and I’ve seen many pedestrians exercising “The Magic Hand”/ “Head Down Syndrome” technique right before getting hit.
3 Likes
舉手望明月，低頭思故鄉
3 Likes
Similar to the ‘Honk and hope’ strategy when breaking a red light. Or the ‘Switch on the hazard warning lights’ tactic when commencing an insane maneuver.
4 Likes