Car accident Quote by Emilie Autumn
““I can explain myself: If you want to be safe, walk in the middle of the street. I’m not joking. You’ve been told to look both ways before crossing the street, and the sidewalk is your friend, right? Wrong. I’ve spent years walking sidewalks at night. I’ve looked around me when it was dark, when there were men following me, creeping out of alleyways, attempting to goad me into speaking to them and shouting obscenities at me when I wouldn’t, and I suddenly realised that the only place left to go was the middle of street. But why would I risk it? Because the odds are in my favour. In the States, someone is killed in a car accident on average every 12.5 minutes, while someone is raped on average every 2.5 minutes. Even when factoring in that, one, I am generously including ALL car-related accidents and not just those involving accidents, and two, that the vast majorities of rapes still go unreported […] And, thus, this is now the way I live my life: out in the open, in the middle of everything, because the middle of the street is actually the safest place to walk.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast “The Dark Side of the Street” with Emilie Autumn, 2023
She argues that walking in the street’s center reduces exposure to street crime and accidents, based on statistical risk assessment.
In simple terms: Middle of street is statistically safer than sidewalk.
Key Takeaway
Consider unconventional safety strategies.
Themes
risk assessment
urban safety
personal autonomy
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
advisory
analytical
When to use this quote
- night walking
- urban commuting
- personal safety planning
- risk evaluation
Key Concepts
statistical analysis
environmental perception
social behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate personal risk versus societal norms?
- What alternative safety measures could be effective?
A Different Perspective
Statistical data may not capture individual variability or situational hazards.
