Final answer:
You should never park within 30 feet of a stop sign, traffic light, or flashing beacon. This distance helps maintain visibility and safety. Situations like the speed of an approaching vehicle and the pedestrian's walking speed must be considered to determine crossing safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
Never park within 30 feet of a stop sign, traffic light, or flashing beacon, including a warning sign. This requirement is essential for maintaining visibility and safety for both drivers and pedestrians. Stopping at a further distance allows drivers enough time to react to stop signs or traffic signals, and it helps pedestrians to evaluate the safety of crossing. When considering whether it is safe to cross the road, one must account for the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles; typically, a greater distance provides more time for a pedestrian to cross safely.
For example, if you see a car driving toward you and it is 28 meters away, equivalent to the length of approximately 8 cars, you need to assess the car's speed and your walking speed to determine if you can safely cross. In urban areas, the speed limit is often around 60 km/h, and crossing the road safely would require being able to walk a distance greater than the car's width (around 4 meters in total) before the car reaches your crossing path.
However, certain situations such as a medical emergency could justify breaking the typical rules, such as the story of rushing a pregnant woman to the hospital at 4 am with no other cars present, where the utilitarian aspect might suggest proceeding through a red light for greater good. But these are exceptional circumstances and must be carefully considered against the legal stipulations.