Can't We All Just Get Along

Tempers flared on the mean streets of West Newton a week ago, perhaps fueled by the heat and humidity. The story of an altercation between a motorist and a jogger was reported in the Crime Watch section of the Newton Tab:

Jogger rocks out, chucks rock

"A woman reported a rock-throwing jogger on July 1. The woman told police she was turning on to Albemarle Road from North Street when a jogger ran out in front of her car, causing her to slam on the brakes. The woman reportedly yelled at the jogger to take the earplugs out of his ear. The jogger reportedly responded and picked up a rock, throwing it at the woman. He missed her and the car. After throwing the rock, the jogger reportedly went down North Street toward Crafts Street. The jogger was described as a balding white man with blue eyes and fair skin."

Now the first thing I want to say is that this wasn't me. I'm not balding (yet), and I've never run with headphones in my life. It's hazardous to your health!

But this particular intersection is one I run through very often. I have a nice seven-mile loop that follows the Charles River for quite a ways before turning onto North Street for several blocks. Unlike the jogger (and like the motorist), I turn right onto Albemarle, rather than continue straight to Crafts Street.

If I didn't know the route so well, I'd think the jogger was just being an idiot, but the motorist (the only witness to the incident whose point of view we have) must have been completely oblivious to the situation, if not negligent. The jogger must have been running South -- either on the sidewalk or on the street. The car must have been driving the same direction, overtaking the jogger just before making the right-hand turn onto Albemarle. Happily headphoned, the jogger would never have heard the car coming up from behind and blithely began to cross Albemarle. The driver began turning and had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the jogger as he crossed in front of her.

In other words, they were both at fault.

No runner should EVER assume that the coast is clear, or that a car is going to stop. As Ethan Coen writes in his great poem "The Drunken Driver Has the Right of Way"...

It’s only the naivest who’ll
Deny this, that the reckless rule;
When facing an oncoming fool
The practiced and sagacious say
Watch out — one side — look sharp — gang way.

However much you plan and pray,
Alas, alack, tant pis, oy vey,
Now — heretofore — til Judgment Day,
The drunken driver has the right of way.


But at the same time, for God's sake, motorists, take care to notice the pedestrians and cyclists that you're overtaking when you make a right hand turn and don't assume that they'll stop and look both ways every time they cross a small intersection.

As for the rock-throwing, well that's definitely a no-no. Rocks are for rabid dogs, not oblivious drivers. Remember, a car is a much more dangerous weapon than any rock.