Westbound traffic blocked by rollover accident at Clinton Parkway and Inverness Drive

I was being facetious. Personally, I don't like the term "accident" because it implies that it was just a boo-boo and that no one was really at fault. Something that couldn't have been avoided. "Collision" is a much better term. It's time to get tough on motorists and it's time the LPD starts doing its job by citing incompetent and dangerous motorists.

April 5, 2013 at 7:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Two pedestrians, including child, 3, suffer minor injuries after being struck by car on Iowa Street

Another point which needs to be made to those who feel that pedestrians must bear the burden of responsibility is that many of our pedestrians are those who cannot drive for one reason or another. Such as children and the elderly. Yes, people need to be careful when crossing a street, but the responsibility really lies with the motorist. Children don't always make the best decisions-- because they're children. The elderly don't always hear or see very well. The penalties are just not severe enough for incompetent motorists. The idiot responsible for this collision (accident implies that no one was at fault) should lose their license for at least 6 months and if they discover they were texting or on the phone at the time, they should lose their license for much longer.

It's funny to me that motorcyclists must go through extensive training, take a tough test and pass a physical. Truckers now have to pass a very stringent physical that includes sleep studies, etc. Even a moderately high blood pressure will sideline a trucker these days. But for motorists any kind of incompetent oaf can apparently drive even large vehicles (such as Suburbans) with impunity. And when they make a stupid decision, there is always a legion of supporters here, ready to jump to their defense and to tell us that they know the motorist personally and that he's a nice guy who donates expired canned good regularly to the food bank. It's time to get tough-- we need tougher licensing (with yearly renewals that involve actually having to take and pass a real test) and tougher enforcement. The right-on-red needs to be rescinded. And the penalties for cell phone usage while driving need to be so severe that people think twice about using them. But that's too much to ask since driving has now become a "right" in our car-centric society where virtually everyone is hopelessly and utterly car-dependent.

April 5, 2013 at 7:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Two pedestrians, including child, 3, suffer minor injuries after being struck by car on Iowa Street

I would imagine that you'd be very surprised indeed, given what you've written above.

April 5, 2013 at 7:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Two pedestrians, including child, 3, suffer minor injuries after being struck by car on Iowa Street

fred doesn't get it and never will. He thinks that the old "sun in my eyes" excuse is a valid.

April 5, 2013 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Two pedestrians, including child, 3, suffer minor injuries after being struck by car on Iowa Street

So... let me get this straight. When visibility is poor you're one of those people who just continue plowing on ahead without adjusting your speed? You see, the reason why it "worked well" is that the old "sun in my eyes" line has been used countless times as an effective excuse to justify why a motorist ran someone over. It has worked well, as in many of these cases either no or minimal action was taken by the police. Shoot, it was "just an accident." All of this I know because I've made it my business to follow these sorts of stories around the nation.

By the way, since you're so willing dispense advice, here's some for you: if you can't see very well, slow down and exercise extreme caution. In my opinion the "sun was in my eyes" is not a valid excuse and if that's all you got if you run me or someone I care about over, be prepared to lose in court.

April 5, 2013 at 7:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Two pedestrians, including child, 3, suffer minor injuries after being struck by car on Iowa Street

You people really don't seem capable of looking beyond your car-centric ways long enough to realize that no one is promoting the idea that a pedestrian shouldn't exercise extreme caution (particularly in this town where the cops can't even be bothered to write speeding tickets anymore.) The problem is that we continue to make effing excuses for incompetent motorists. I see it all of the time on this message board. Some idiot drives his big, bad pickup into someone's kitchen and this forum is full of people offering excuses for why it happened. Nope, the driver surely couldn't be to blame. But anytime a pedestrian is injured or killed, there is not only minimal sympathy but constant admonitions about how those pesky pedestrians need to be more careful. Heck, does anyone here remember when that poor octogenarian attempted to cross 6th street and not only wound up in the hospital but was issued a ticket by the fearless LPD who can't be bothered to do the same with motorists anymore? I remember it well and I remember how there were people talking how the motorist had the right to sue the poor old guy for the damage done to their precious, precious car. Unbelievable. And did we ever find out what happened to that poor guy who was severely injured on 23rd street after he probably slipped and fell while negotiating a pile of rock-hard ice (since the plows are only concerned about making the roads better for cars and no one else)? Thanks to the excellent journalism of the LJW, I don't think we ever found out, but the message board was sure full of people speculating that the victim must have been drunk. Because, you know, only alcoholics walk in 'Murica. Decent, tax-payin' folk drive cars like decent people do.

Those of you incapable of seeing the bizarre double standard are simply stuck in your car-centric thinking. Get out there and walk regularly and you might actually understand why some of us are angry.

April 5, 2013 at 6:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Two pedestrians, including child, 3, suffer minor injuries after being struck by car on Iowa Street

Sort of like when an inept motorist plows through pedestrians then wishes to kiss it all off with "gee, my bad!" and expecting that to make it all right.

April 5, 2013 at 6:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

New report compares Lawrence's economy to others in the region; latest numbers show local economy shrank in 2011

Lawrence has always been a poseurville, so it's amusing to watch the chickens come home to roost for the Chambercrats and other assorted morons who are responsible.

April 5, 2013 at 6:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

County won't loosen building codes for agritourism

I can't wait for those industrial pig farms to open up in Douglas County, since thanks to pending legislation there will be nothing the county commission can do to stop it.

April 5, 2013 at 6:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lawrence man arrested on suspicion of stealing phone from pedestrian

Well, those pesky pedestrians are out there crossing streets without taking stronger evasive action from inept motorists, so it doesn't surprise me that they don't put up more of a fight when someone tries to steal something from them. As the incompetent motorist says after flattening a cyclist or pedestrian: "They shouldna been there."

April 5, 2013 at 6:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )