2008 Woodie Awards
New organization offers safety to pedestrians
By Ryan Benton
Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: Features
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If you stand on the corner of Rosedale Avenue and S. High Street during class change time, you will notice a basic fact: people control traffic. As students, the law seems to be "if someone else is crossing, so can I." However, there are numerous problems with this.
First, if you have ever sat in a car on Rosedale Avenue trying to turn onto High Street for more than 10 minutes, you know that traffic flow can be all but stopped at times. Second, people assume cars are going to stop. Sometimes, they do not.
On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 111 minutes. A bystander is injured by traffic every eight minutes. That adds up to over 65,000 injured and almost 5,000 deaths every year.
When a traffic signal is green in the direction that you want to walk, it is not the same as getting a "walk" signal. True, often times one person can safely cross. That does not mean that 20 people can. Many cars are trying to turn, and once one student begins to cross, everyone crosses.
What people need to do is press the walk button and wait. The crossing signal at this intersection stops all other traffic, giving students ample time to safely cross without traffic trying to turn.
Pressing the walk button is similar to waiting for an elevator. When pushing the button for an elevator, you expect to wait until the elevator gets to the floor you are on before the doors open. When you press the walk button, do not cross just because there are no cars in the area, instead wait.
How many times have you dangerously crossed one part of the street and stood waiting on the next corner, only to find that the signal turns to walk after you have blocked traffic by crossing? How many times have you been crossing the street and a car needs to turn, so you quickly jog across the street to get out of the way?
Pedestrians have the right-of-way in an intersection when in the crosswalk, but that does not mean they can step out in front of traffic. If they wait for the walk signal to cross any part of the intersection, safety will be increased, traffic will flow better and yes, you can still get to class on time.
First, if you have ever sat in a car on Rosedale Avenue trying to turn onto High Street for more than 10 minutes, you know that traffic flow can be all but stopped at times. Second, people assume cars are going to stop. Sometimes, they do not.
On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 111 minutes. A bystander is injured by traffic every eight minutes. That adds up to over 65,000 injured and almost 5,000 deaths every year.
When a traffic signal is green in the direction that you want to walk, it is not the same as getting a "walk" signal. True, often times one person can safely cross. That does not mean that 20 people can. Many cars are trying to turn, and once one student begins to cross, everyone crosses.
What people need to do is press the walk button and wait. The crossing signal at this intersection stops all other traffic, giving students ample time to safely cross without traffic trying to turn.
Pressing the walk button is similar to waiting for an elevator. When pushing the button for an elevator, you expect to wait until the elevator gets to the floor you are on before the doors open. When you press the walk button, do not cross just because there are no cars in the area, instead wait.
How many times have you dangerously crossed one part of the street and stood waiting on the next corner, only to find that the signal turns to walk after you have blocked traffic by crossing? How many times have you been crossing the street and a car needs to turn, so you quickly jog across the street to get out of the way?
Pedestrians have the right-of-way in an intersection when in the crosswalk, but that does not mean they can step out in front of traffic. If they wait for the walk signal to cross any part of the intersection, safety will be increased, traffic will flow better and yes, you can still get to class on time.
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