Why Is It Called Jaywalking? Are You One Of The JAY'S? скачать в хорошем качестве

Why Is It Called Jaywalking? Are You One Of The JAY'S?

Why is it called "jaywalking"? "Jay" was 1910s American slang for "idiot" or "country bumpkin," and cities weaponized the insult to shame pedestrians into using crosswalks. Before mass automobile adoption around 1910, pedestrians crossed streets freely. Henry Ford's affordable Model T flooded cities with cars, causing traffic chaos and rising deaths. Rather than immediately building infrastructure, cities (starting with NYC's 1910 ordinance) made pedestrians the problem through coordinated PR campaigns. Newspapers ran sensational "JAY WALKER KILLED" headlines portraying pedestrians as stupid rural newcomers unable to adapt to "civilized" automobile traffic. Automobile clubs, insurance companies, and department stores reinforced the stigma with posters, pamphlets, and signs declaring "JAYS ENDANGER TRAFFIC." The insult perfectly shamed working-class and female pedestrians while positioning car ownership as sophisticated progress. By 1923 most major U.S. cities had jaywalking laws with fines escalating from $2 ($60 today) to $100 for repeat offenders. Pedestrian deaths peaked at 23,000 in 1924 then declined as social pressure worked. European cities avoided this pedestrian demonization, retaining walkable design America abandoned. Today U.S. cities spend billions on Vision Zero reversing car supremacy with protected crosswalks. Jaywalking created invisible cultural infrastructure prioritizing automobiles over people for a century. DISCLAIMER: This video covers historical context. Current traffic laws vary by jurisdiction. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some links in this description may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. #Jaywalking #WordOrigins #UrbanHistory #CarCulture #TrafficLaws