We all have been there. You are driving down 12th street, minding your business and then the lights begin to flash. Your body tenses as you see the perpetrator step out into the crosswalk without even a bother to look up from their phone. You slam your brakes and pray you don’t skid through the crosswalk and still ultimately hit the pedestrian.
This is a common occurrence for anyone driving up 12th street. Now, I am not defending the drivers that do not respect traffic laws and barrel through the crosswalk while the lights are flashing; however, pedestrians have an equal responsibility when it comes to everyone’s safety.
Pedestrians do have the right of way, but if it comes down to getting squished or waiting for a speeding vehicle to pass, the latter is the better choice. It takes a while for a vehicle to stop. Braking distance does vary vehicle to vehicle. While it may be easier for a sports car with larger brakes and less weight to come to a complete stop, a large truck needs more time to achieve a complete stop because of the immense weight.
Hunter Parrish, freshman acting and directing major, has strong feelings about people not checking both ways before crossing the crosswalk. “When you hit the button at the crosswalk, please wait a minute and look both ways. Trucks can’t stop like cars do. And please get off of your bikes when crossing,” said Parrish.
Bicyclists are another hazard at the crosswalk. There have been numerous cases of bicyclists jumping out into the crosswalk without looking both ways. This is very dangerous behavior that can harm both the bicyclist and the driver.
“I was driving my truck and a bicyclist from the campus decided to hit the button and speed across the street without looking both ways. They didn’t give a second thought about it and I didn’t have time to stop. I was sent into the other lane, hoping there wasn’t another car next to me. I had to do this in order to avoid hitting the bicyclist. So please be cautious, because it is not just your life [that] you’re putting in danger it’s also the drivers,” Parrish said.
The crosswalks can only do so much for pedestrian safety. If pedestrians do not look both ways before crossing, it becomes extremely dangerous for the drivers and themselves. There are three easy steps pedestrians can take to keep everyone safe.
- Get off your phone and remove your earbuds or headphones. I cannot count how many times I have seen people crossing the street while looking at their phones. They usually are in their own world listening to their music and checking Instagram or Twitter. This may be okay on campus, but in a crosswalk where it comes down to getting hit or not, get off your phone.
- Look both ways before you cross. We were all taught – I hope we all have at least – to look both ways before you cross the street, and if you haven’t, it is pretty easy to do. Before you put your foot out in the road, you look right then left then right again. If there is no vehicle barreling towards you then you can step out into the street. If there is then wait until the vehicle passes.
- Give vehicles a chance to stop before entering the crosswalk. After you hit the button and the lights start flashing, wait a few seconds before crossing. As I stated earlier, it takes time for vehicles to stop, especially if they’re a truck. If you see a vehicle is coming and is trying to slow down give them a moment to completely stop. There are times that it is not feasible for a vehicle to stop or they may stop right on the crosswalk.
There is no reason for vehicles to almost hit pedestrians or have to swerve into other lanes. If we can keep these three steps in mind as we are crossing the crosswalk, we will be much safer. In other words use your brain and be safe.
