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NYC Asks Google Maps For Fewer Left Turns
An anonymous reader writes: Members of the New York City Council have sent a letter to Google asking that its Maps navigation system provide users an option to "reduce left turns." Pedestrian safety is the issue they're trying to improve. In the U.S., a quarter of all accidents involving pedestrians happen while a vehicle is making a left turn. "The first cause of death for New York City children under 13 is not gangs, it's not poverty, not violence. It's being hit by cars and trucks. This is the time for the city to reach out to the private sector, so they can help us to provide information to drivers about where you should avoid making left turns." The council members are also asking for an option that would let truckers stay on known truck routes, hoping that would prevent the problems that arise when big-rigs wander onto streets not large enough to safely accommodate them.
Actually Yes they do, there is a setting for Class A trucks with height & weight restrictions restrictions
Just do a "google maps class A truck setting", BAM! ... there is your recalculated route
Hmm. How about teaching kids to do the simple, sane thing and Watch Where The Fuck they are going...??
What happened to parents teaching their kids basic safety, and the old adage about "Looking both ways before crossing the street"?
Seriously...do parents not teach kids the basic things about life? Don't talk to strangers, look both ways, cross street at intersections, etc.
I guess I'm just puzzled why what used to be common sense has suddenly gone straight out the fucking window?
Seriously? Pedestrians crossing the street with a walk sign get hit by someone making a left hand turn and you blame the pedestrian? The issue is the driver making the left is mostly focussed on oncoming traffic. As soon as they see an opening in oncoming traffic, they gun it with out checking if the crosswalk is clear. We can "blame" the victim like you are. We can blame and punish the driver. Or we can admit there are limits to human focus and do something to improve the situation.
Clearly you don't walk, ride a bicycle, or a motorcycle on a regular basis or you would be aware that people in cars regularly change lanes, run red lights and make turns without noticing anything smaller than a passenger car.
Some privacy policy Slashdot.
Left turn = three right turns. Three times safer, right?
If you ask a statistician you'll discover that it's not only safer, but it's also more efficient because less time is spend making complete stops and idling at lights. This is why UPS minimizes left turns.
Some privacy policy Slashdot.
As an NYC-specific fact: right turn on red is explicitly illegal within city limits.