We have been told since we were children: you have to look to the right and to the left before crossing the street and wait for the little guy in the traffic light to turn green. However more than a third of pedestrians in Montpellier adopt dangerous behavior. 88% of the cases observed during a study carried out by OpinionWay for MMA are that of a pedestrian crossing while his light is red. While this concerns 61% of cases nationally. Other dangerous behaviors observed: they cross outside zebra crossings Where use their phone without paying attention to cars. Mainly in avenue de Heidelberg, Quai des Tanneurs, avenue de Lodève, avenue de la Liberté and avenue Carles Flahaut.
Pedestrians crossing when their light is red
“I cross when it’s green for me” says Elizabeth, 71. But she admits passing also “when it’s red but when there is no car. You have to be smart and not follow the rules to the letter.” Ibrahim comes from Angoulême and sees walking anywhere as a way of “fit in.” He said with a smile: “If there is no car then we can cross. If I get dabbed too bad.”
It makes Wilfried laugh much less, who comes from Nîmes to work in Montpellier: “You have to be super vigilant because it goes through any time and anywhere.” Paul is a 20 year old pedestrian. He “Wears headphones and walks through without looking.” If there are cars, “I run a bit and it goes.” His friend Antoinemotorist annoys : “I missed my first permit crossing for serious misconduct due to a pedestrian crossing out of the zebra crossing.”