How American vs. Danish Pedestrian Laws Stack Up

Long ago, the Danes adopted a proactive and protective approach toward pedestrians. Here's an excerpt Danish Traffic Act § 27:

Drivers who approach a pedestrian crossing that is not regulated must adjust their speed in such a way that there is no danger or inconvenience to pedestrians who are in the crossing or are on their way into it. If necessary, the driver must stop to let pedestrians pass.

The motorist is responsible for not endangering or inconveniencing pedestrians, even before those pedestrians reach a designated crosswalk. This is a pragmatic application of the “streets are for people” slogan: giving vehicular traffic the back seat.

Here’s the part that's so un-American about the Danish Traffic Act: motorists are required to adjust their speed in such a way that there is no inconvenience to pedestrians who are are on their way into the street.