Survival Instinct Testing

The relationship between pedestrian and car is interesting here. New York City is famous for pedestrians needing to watch out as violent-minded drivers bear down on them in crosswalks. We were both shocked by how polite drivers were in Seattle, almost always stopping to wave pedestrians across. All across New Zealand, though, drivers simply do not accord pedestrians a second thought. Drivers aren't aggressive, but they never, ever, stop for you to cross the road. Ever. You could be half-way across the road in the middle of a gale wind and driving rain and the drivers will speed on by, preventing you from crossing. We both found this strange in a country where everyone seems to otherwise be so nice to other folks.