Chris Liss on Nostr: Almost got hit by a car today. Was crossing the street in Lisbon, where they let both ...

Almost got hit by a car today. Was crossing the street in Lisbon, where they let both traffic and pedestrian lights stay red for like 5 seconds. IOW, instead of one light going red, and a second later the other one turns green, they BOTH linger red, presumably for extra safety. But because of that, and because I'm a native born New Yorker, when I see the traffic stopped at a red light, even though I too have a red light, I figure I can go, that it'll be another few seconds before the traffic starts. I timed it wrong, lights must have been red for 4.5 seconds already when I darted into the street, and I had to sprint to avoid the accelerating car.

But it goes to show that this kind of safetyism, which not only costs everyone God knows how much time in the aggregate, leads to its opposite. I suppose if everyone complies and waits around like an asshole for as long as it takes the light to turn green, it might work, but throw in some non-compliant NY Gen-X types, and it's the reverse of the intended effect.

I exaggerate a little that I almost got hit -- I moved so quickly the car didn't even have to slow down. I was prepared to be wrong when I took the chance. But I did have to book my ass off to avoid having the guy screech the brakes and honk at me.