Once upon a time (and still is) ... the crosswalk
As early as the 1930s, consideration was given to possible road markings and signage to guide pedestrians across the roads only at predetermined points. In 1936, the Federal Council decided that the yellow color still used today was appropriate, as all hiking trails had been signposted in the same color since 1934. However, it was not until 1948 that the first yellow crosswalk was painted on the highway in Basel.
France had already introduced crosswalks in the 1930s, which reduced the number of pedestrians killed at crossings by almost half. According to the ADAC, the mortality rate would have fallen even further if pedestrians had always strictly adhered to the stripes when crossing the road. The Automobil-Revue also complained as early as 1933: "The majority of pedestrians cross the road next to the stripes and drivers also act as if there were no markings at all."
In the past 91 years, not too much seems to have changed in this respect at least, apart from the fact that pedestrians have officially had right of way over motorists on the yellow stripes since 1962. Today, some pedestrians see this as an invitation to not even take their eyes off their cell phones before crossing the road, even with music in their ears. But if you look, you will be run over. Because the driver then thinks: "He's seen me."
