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Comment by kodapoda | Hacker News Reader

This is a toddler argument. Driving is a time-consuming chore in most cases, so people zone out, get distracted, don't pay attention to things that are harder to notice and are much more vulnerable than the vehicle itself. We depend on driving for better or worse, doesn't mean we can't make roads safer for pedestrians.

When compared to the EU (no right turn on red), US stands out as an extremely unsafe country for pedestrians, with pedestrian deaths actually increasing year-over-year. Sure, it's not all attributed to the right turn on red law, multiple new regulations are needed.

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And that's a pandering-to-the-toddlers argument. Don't want to pay attention on the road? Then we will remove you from it and let the grown-ups go about their business unimpeded.

That's... what this suggested legislation is about. Not banning driving, but making it illegal to turn right on red, presumably punishing drivers who do. Maybe I am misunderstanding your argument.

You're misunderstanding it intentionally. There's nothing wrong with turning right on red. Turning right WITHOUT PAYING ATTENTION is wrong, as is ANY driving without paying attention.

Again: Take inattentive drivers off the road; don't punish everyone all the time with more piecemeal bullshit.

By this argument there is nothing wrong with texting while driving. Or drinking. Why did we make it illegal for all people to drive under influence instead of just punishing those who become inattentive?

You are talking about attention as if we can detect inattentive drivers by measuring their chakra energy from a mile away. No. There are inherently more dangerous situations on the road, right turn on red being one of those. We have the data to prove it, no need to sacrifice pedestrians in order to make the road—eventually—safer. Why do we need traffic lights at all? Let’s just all pay attention and punish drivers who are inattentive.

The suggestion to punish drivers who hit pedestrians is great. Oh wait, we are already doing that.

"By this argument there is nothing wrong with texting while driving."

By what argument? Oh right: none floated here. You should start a scarecrow factory with all the strawmen you're churning out.

Play dumb elsewhere. This is boring. Buh-bye.

Are you able to read what you type or is it one or the other for you?

> By what argument? Oh right: none floated here.

> There's nothing wrong with turning right on red.

The fact that you are unable top pay attention to your own comments makes total sense. Explains everything you said earlier.

Please be careful when taking right turns on red, with your non-existent attention span you are bound to injure someone.

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