The road is a shared ecosystem, but it is not an equal one. Pedestrians and cyclists are known as "vulnerable road users" because they lack the structural protection of a vehicle. In a collision between a two-ton SUV and a person, the physics are tragically one-sided. As cities become more dense, the "driver" must shift their identity from a pilot of a machine to a guardian of the space.
Safety for vulnerable users often comes down to "the turn." Many accidents occur during right-hand turns where drivers are looking for other cars but failing to check for a cyclist in their blind spot or a pedestrian in the crosswalk. True driving competence in an urban environment is measured by a "shoulder check" and a willingness to yield even when the light is green. We must design our driving habits around the premise that the person outside the car has the most to lose.
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