From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 22-Jun-14 23:36, Larry Sheldon wrote:   
   > On 6/22/2014 11:03 PM, Benjamin.Kubelsky wrote:   
   >> As far as I'm concerned, yes. But the exception above is the law   
   >> here. Oh there are other laws as Larry referenced that a pedestrian   
   >> generally has the right of way over cars. That applies at   
   >> intersections where there are crosswalks "either marked or   
   >> unmarked" ...   
   >   
   > That "marked or unmarked" thing must be a California artifact--it   
   > sure doesn't seem to be the case here in the flatlands.   
   >   
   > The way I learned it in California in the early Stone Age was that   
   > every intersection of streets has crosswalk EITHER where the white   
   > paint is OR where the sight-line extensions of the sidewalks lie.   
      
   Texas has the same "unmarked crosswalk" thing; do you consider us to be   
   part of the "flatlands"?   
      
   > In California the practice was that where ever there was a STOP sign   
   > or a traffic light there was a "limit line" usually just before the   
   > crosswalk.   
      
   Limit lines mark where the intersection begins.  It doesn't dictate what   
   you should do about it; that is up to the relevant sign/light.   
      
   > In addition, in the case of a STOP sign, "STOP" was pained on the   
   > pavement just short of the limit line.   
      
   California likes to paint things on the pavement in addition to wayside   
   or overhead signs.  I didn't understand the value of this until driving   
   on a foggy night in SF, where the overhead signs were not visible; I've   
   never encountered that problem anywhere else.   
      
   > Limit lines are a mystery to people heret they have no idea what the   
   > idea is.   
      
   See above.  In some cases, it's not obvious where the intersection   
   begins, and especially in the case of crosswalks, it may be desired that   
   the intersection begins other than where the law would have it be by   
   default (i.e. where the curb begins to turn from one street to the other   
   street).  Some jurisdictions put them at every stop sign/light for   
   consistency, even when they aren't needed.   
      
   However, many drivers confuse limit lines and old-style crosswalks,   
   stopping _in_ the crosswalk; that is why most new crosswalks are now the   
   zebra-type, and some of the jurisdictions near me have been busy   
   repainting all their crosswalks in the last few years for improved   
   safety--and consistency.   
      
   S   
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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