this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2025
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Fuck Cars

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A place to discuss problems of car centric infrastructure or how it hurts us all. Let's explore the bad world of Cars!

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[–] Nouveau_Burnswick@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

Did the traffic engineer who created an intersection leading to death commit murder or manslaughter?

What about further traffic engineers who reuse this exact intersection knowing it leads to death?

[–] Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago

I consider them less responsible, but still responsible. Let’s call it a 65/35 split. If they have no choice but to use that design, then whoever forced them to do it.

People are responsible for their own behavior, but there are proven ways to reduce traffic speed in road design, and not using them is a deliberate choice. Maybe made for sensible reasons, but it’s still a choice known to increase the likelihood of someone dying, just like driving fast.

[–] helvetpuli@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

To call this particular intersection engineered is a bit of a stretch. It looks more like it's just there without have had any thought put into it at all.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QSdaif6sWSyPkQEKA?g_st=ac

[–] Nouveau_Burnswick@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Inaction is an action. Copy pasting another design without thought is an action. Not applying engeering judgement as an engineer is why civil engineers in Canada wear an iron ring to this day.

If someone died at an intersection, then it is insufficiently engineered. If someone was seriously injured at an intersection, then it is insufficiently engineered.

Collisions, no matter how frequent, should lead to no more than minor injuries.

[–] helvetpuli@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah. That's what I was getting at.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Good argument for the town not refreshing the paint on the road contributing to the hazard

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

If there is a better design, known hazard, there’s an argument for holding the town responsible for not fixing it

My town has been doing a great job in the last few years of focusing 🧘‍♀️ n the most dangerous roads and intersections, and making a real difference

[–] Mediocre_Bard@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

No and no. I did not mean to say that the driver committed manslaughter. I meant that, at best, a prosecutor could go for manslaughter and not murder. However, this sounds like an accident. Shit happens.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Maybe that’s the real problem, accepting it with “shit happens “. There are many things we should be doing to prevent the majority of these senseless deaths. And it only takes holding onto the outrage to get it done.

[–] Mediocre_Bard@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

I think that becoming aware of all of the problems of the world via the internet has really messed us up. Yes, it is bad that this kid hit this lady and she then died. Is there anything that I can do about it other than feel bad? No. So, the arising defense mechanism is, essentially, "shit happens". This allows me to be aware of all of the horrible things without falling into a state of despair and hopelessness.

If this event was local to you and you can take action to make that area safer, definitely go for it.