Principle and Preference

I was driving along the other day and saw something I and I am sure many others often see.  Someone walking along the road instead of the footpath.  There is no doubt times that is right.  I have done it myself.  The footpath is a quagmire, and it is firmer on the road.
This is probably just me, but I was reminded of what was said to me years ago, “it is not how close to danger you can go but how far you can keep from it.”
Mine is not a recipe for bolting the doors and refraining from going out.  But it is a recipe for trying to avoid harm.  There are definitely things that are unavoidable.  Like someone having a medical episode while driving.  Or encountering a drunk driver.  Or someone who is intent on doing people harm.  Or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Yet I am big on not assuming good intent.  To me walking on the road and letting cars go by on the other side is an assumption.  Until recently it was seen to be a reasonable assumption.  But more and more it seems freakish things are happening, as are deliberate acts of malice.
I totally adhere to the thought that when my number is up, my number is up.  Yet I will do what I can to ensure I do not hasten the day unnecessarily.  There are things I need help with They are being worked on.
I am all for risk taking.  But not unnecessary risks.  Not risk taking that as much as possible has not been thought through.  I know it has all to do with my world view, but I hear lots of people say they do not do what is good for them because they have been offended at some point.  The big question I am asking myself lately is, will that always be seen as reasonable and justification for not doing something.
So I guess I am big on avoidance.  I think it is a case of putting principle before preference.  How I feel about something is not necessarily right.  I don’t think murder is ever right (I define murder as the taking of another life that poses no physical threat to me).  That would be motivated by preference.
My feeling may be to get revenge.  And even what I do regularly may not change that.  I will wait a few days before responding.   Often how I feel changes and my mind is clearer.
So to walk on the road may be my preference but in principle I do not know it is a good idea without checking things first and avoiding assumptions.