It was dark and I remember making sure there were no cars in sight before using the crosswalk. It wasn’t a long walk in between one sidewalk to another maybe 8 feet, as I walked I saw high beams coming at me rapidly. I start running and feel a gust of wind push me toward the end of the crosswalk and turn to see the truck disappear onto West Christopherson Parkway.
Where am I going with this? Even when using crosswalks always be on your guard and drivers always watch for pedestrians. It’s driving behind the wheel 101, but unfortunately it’s something we all ignore, and choose to ignore sometimes.
Just two days in Modesto three pedestrians were seriously hurt by motorists while using the crosswalks. The victims were 12, 15 and 53. Most pedestrian at risk are older adults, 65 and older, and children between the ages of 5 and 15, also drivers as well as drivers and pedestrians who are alcohol impaired. In 2011 alone an unfortunate 4,432 pedestrians were killed in traffic collisions in the U.S. and in 2012 4,743.
Law enforcement is paying attention to both pedestrians and motorists when using the streets. If you are going to cross the street use the signals placed in designated areas to do so. Also, when crossing the street use appropriate intersections and crosswalks to do so. If you see a car driving faster than the speed limit do not test them and walk anyways, it will cause harm to you and the driver.
Motorists, if you see a pedestrian crossing the street stop. By law you have to. It may sound like a tape on repeat but do not text and drive, if you absolutely have to send a text pull over to a safe spot and proceed to do so. While driving through streets that you know have people walking especially around the college area, be more cautious. Not all pay attention to cars while having a phone in their hand.
If you needed more of a reason to stop for a pedestrian, a ticket for failing to yield right-of-way at crosswalks is a $238 fine. Traffic collisions and pedestrians are nothing to take lightly. Safe driving!