Pedestrian Safety is a Two-Way Street

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December 8, 2013 by ladyfleur

Dear Gary Richards,

How could you? You feature a full column on pedestrian safety and ignore the common mistakes that drivers make that injure and kill people every day. It’s a two way street, you know, and drivers bear a huge responsibility since they are piloting machines that can kill with a split second of inattention.

Why didn’t you include tips like these for drivers?

• When making left or right turns at intersections or driveways, carefully check the street corners, crosswalks and sidewalks for people walking. Unless you have a green arrow at an intersection, they have the right of way, not you, and you may be approaching them from behind where they can’t see you.
• When approaching a crosswalk that does not have a signal, carefully check not only the crosswalk, but edges of the road for people about to cross.
• Even if there’s not a painted crosswalk, intersections have legal crossings for people walking unless explicitly prohibited. Look for people at every corner.
• Don’t “extend” a yellow light and enter an intersection on red. People on the other side of the light may be stepping into the crosswalk when they get the WALK signal.
• Realize that countdown signals are timed for the average adult’s walking speed, not for the elderly or children. So don’t hit the gas on a green light without looking to see if someone is still crossing.
• Most importantly: SLOW DOWN. The faster you’re driving the less time you have to react to a bonehead move, either theirs or yours. When you drive over the speed limit or whip around corners you put everyone at risk.

Please follow-up your article with one focused on tips for drivers like these. I’m horrified every time I read about people dying in our streets. It’s preventable and we’re all part of the solution.

Janet L
Mountain View

Update: Gary did indeed write a follow up piece with tips from my letter. Thank you, Gary!