I "I always do my best to ensure that neither through action or inaction will I cause injury to other road users. However, I am not perfect, and occasionally make a mistake."
That would be closest to my answer. However, though I'm not perfect, I've never broken the first rule. As for the second rule? In my youth, there were a few times when I was the victim of the breaking of the second rule. I immediately labeled myself 'proximately responsible'.
II Pedestrians should not step into the road ... as if the rules do not apply to them. Whichever 'rules' you like - especially physics. (I think mine are pretty simple; they've worked for me in Mexico, Canada, France, Germany, and even in Amerika). Putting yourself in danger is no less a violation of the rules than putting others in danger; it's almost the same thing.
My 'rules', however, do not automatically excuse those who are not legally at fault, from some proximate responsibility ...
III The times when I was a passive participant in the breaking of the second rule still cause me consternation. My urge not to allow them to be repeated demanded that I study them and other 'accidents', so that I could learn how to mitigate, counter, and/or occasionally even discourage or prevent, others' mistakes.
IV I freely admit that I believe that most other road users are in the way. Of that group, most are only passively so; luckily they outnumber those who actively try slow down other road users. The only ones that are not 'in the way', are the ones who consciously and conscientiously avoid being in other people's way, such as:
a) pedestrians who know that cars can pass through a crosswalk 'perpendicularly' much faster than a pedestrian can cross it a1) drivers who either slow down way in advance to avoid such pedestrians, or - when perfectly safe [which is rarer], speed up for the same reason (ideally along with a lane change away from them, to keep the pedestrian safer) b) drivers who permit and encourage overtakes when safely possible c) drivers who make [left] turns across oncoming traffic lanes while wasting as little spacetime as possible, so as to increase the likelihood of those behind them doing the same as soon as reasonably possible
V No one - except the truly reckless - wants to drive at a speed greater than road and traffic conditions allow. Some tend to to travel at speeds that allow little to no margin for error on their or anyone else's part. Though they are not reckless, they are probably inadequately experienced/educated/trained/tested. Since driver's education/training/testing are all inadequate, it follows I may be playing the devil's advocate here; it may sound like I'm saying everyone should slow down a bit. (In fact I have.) The vast majority of posted speed 'limits' are significantly slower than that, however. When coupled with the fact that most roads are designed to support speeds well above the posted speed 'limits', and that automotive handling and braking have improved significantly over the past two decades, it surprises me how many people refuse to see what's being done to them.
_________________ The Rules for ALL ROAD USERS: 1) No one gets hurt 2) Nothing gets hit, except to protect others; see Rule#1 3) The Laws of Physics are invincible and immutable - so-called 'laws' of men are not 4) You are always immediately and ultimately responsible for your safety first, then proximately responsible for everyone's Do not let other road users' mistakes become yours, nor yours become others 5) The rest, including laws of the land, is thoughtful observation, prescience, etiquette, decorum, and cooperation
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