Shared Wednesday, August 30, 2017 on the streets.mn Twitter feed (which you should be reading!), this amazing 1970 Mobil ad will resonate with local pedestrian advocates:

Text:

There are very few principles worth dying for. Last year, 9,800 pedestrians laid down their lives for this one:

“The pedestrian always has the right of way.”

It may not be a terribly noble cause, but most people say they believe in it. And that brings up an interesting question:

If everyone agrees that the pedestrian has the right of way, how come so many pedestrians get killed?

Well, for one thing, a lot of pedestrians keep thinking of themselves as pedestrians, even when they get behind the wheel of a car. Which leads to confrontations between militant walking pedestrians and confused driving pedestrians.

And then, it doesn’t matter who’s really right. What matters if no driver was ever killed or crippled when a walker rammed into his car.

So next time you’re crossing the street, and you’re tempted to sprint in front of a car and stare the driver down, consider these possibilities:

He may not see you until it’s too late.
His foot might slip off the brake.
He might think you’re going to stop.
Or, he might simply be just as impatient as you are.

In any case, when the green light says you have the right of way, don’t rush our there belligerently to get what’s coming to you.

Because you might.

More discussion at Twitter.