As I was driving home from my shopping trip last Saturday morning, a young woman (with her nose glued to her phone, and wearing earphones) suddenly stepped out into the road just ahead of me. Luckily I was able to brake hard and swerve to the right, and I avoided hitting her. She signaled her apology, I waved back and smiled, and continued on my way home.
As a result it made me think of the term Jay or J walking, and I wondered what the Jay or J stood for. So, as usual, I consulted Mr Google.
In fact he wasn't particularly helpful, but he did offer some information.
It seems that the term comes from 'Jay-Drivers' in the USA, where the word Jay referred to 'Greenhorns', or 'Rubes', who were drivers of horsedrawn carriages who drove on the wrong side of the road. Unfortunately, where the actual term 'Jay' itself comes from isn't clear.
These days, of course, the expression refers to pedestrians, such as the one I nearly ran over on Saturday.
Apparently Jay-Walking isn't actually illegal in the UK, but it is certainly unadvisable!
I have see the police in Warsaw fine people on the spot for not using the Pedestrian Crossing. Texting and walking is also very dangerous.
ReplyDeleteThe woman on Saturday suddenly appeared from between two parked cars on my left, and had her eyes glued to her phone. She was totally unaware of anything around her.
DeleteThose youngsters glued to their screens are a menace when out walking. I am often forced off the pavement by one of those zombies.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I find very odd is that you can see a group of 5 or 6 'youfs' all walking together, but all studying their phones. They don't talk to each other.
DeleteStop, look, and listen before crossing the road, look both ways.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the young woman I mentioned above will remember that in future. She could have ended the day in hospital; or worse!
DeleteI've found that those who just wander out between a couple of parked cars, while engrossed in their phones, often look up with a surprised "what are you doing there" look on their faces! Mobile phones should have a built-in alert to prevent jay-walking!
ReplyDeleteThis woman certainly looked shocked. I suppose she hadn't imagined that cars actually use the roads!
DeleteIt must have been 1968 when my late brother Paul was summonsed to court for jaywalking in the centre of Hull. He was fined and a little report on this heinous crime appeared on the front page of "The Hull Daily Mail". In Great Britain, jaywalking has been illegal - though rarely strictly enforced - since the 1930s. See:-
ReplyDeletehttps://parliamentnews.co.uk/is-jaywalking-illegal-in-the-uk-guide-for-people-traveling-to-uk
I did check this on Wiki, and it stated that 'Unlike in Northern Ireland, Jaywalking is not illegal in the UK. It seems to be left to the discretion of the local cops.
DeleteI think the Highway Code itself is more reliable than some random article.
Deletehttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-pedestrians-1-to-35
Jay walking is not illegal in the UK.
It's all quite complicated. Best to 'look right, look left, and look right again'.
DeleteAs a child I was taught the Green Cross Code. As a young woman I was told to be aware, always, of my surroundings.
ReplyDeleteYes, and use some common sense as well.
DeleteLeave jaywalking to the Yanks. Being drunk and disorderly and/or causing a nuisance in the street is what you can get arrested for in Britain. Walking on the road by pedestrians amongst cars is not an offence. Walking from between two parked cars into a road in Brighton without looking was a careless mistake and it was good that you were alert enough not to knock her down.
ReplyDeleteShe was lucky that my reflexes were spot-on, and that my brakes were good, otherwise she would now be in hospital.
DeleteI almost got run over when walking up here. I usually wear one ear bud so I can hear if a car or bike approaches. This time I was wearing headphones which cut out all noise. And I was crossing what I thought was a deserted road. I hadn't seen any vehicles in half an hour. Fortunately it was a neighbour who slowed down and waited for me to move. I don't wear headphones anymore!
ReplyDeleteAlmost everyone I see here wears earphones and is in deep conversation with a phone. I really wasn't surprised this woman did what she did. I'm just amazed it doesn't happen more often.
DeleteThat was a very close call. Things could have gone very badly.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, you have great skills behind the wheel.
I still have very good reflexes, and I'm never in a hurry. I go out in the car again this morning, and I shall be EXTRA aware of what people are doing.
Delete