EDITORIAL: Help take charge of your own safety

Published 8:37 am Thursday, February 20, 2020

A petition was recently launched regarding crosswalks in the wake of the recent accident involving a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle. 

Earlier this month, a Georgia College student was hit by a car while crossing the crosswalk on Montgomery Street near North Liberty Street.

We need a solution to the pedestrian safety issue here in Baldwin County. 

The Montgomery-Liberty street crosswalk is located in the middle of a block, so there is no light or crossing signal, only a sign telling drivers to stop for pedestrians. The driver of the car that hit the student told Georgia State Patrol she had difficulty seeing due to a truck approaching the crosswalk with its lights on at the same time.

Now, we are presented with an issue: this is not the first time someone has been hit in the crosswalks of downtown. What is the solution? 

Some propose that it is a matter of simply looking up from phones when crossing the street. But, who’s to say everyone is on their phone? Others say that drivers need to be aware because pedestrians have the right of way; while still others say that pedestrians need to look out for cars because they are simply bigger 

There is no right answer as to why these injured pedestrians keep getting hit. However, there are some solutions that we all — pedestrians and drivers alike can keep in mind when driving downtown. 

First solution: always pay attention and stay off of distracting devices. Whether it’s a phone, a GPS or a food ordering device — any sort of distraction while driving is bad, but it’s even worse on streets that are heavily populated with people. 

Second solution: drivers, even though your vehicle is bigger than the person crossing the crosswalk, take extra caution. Be prepared to stop. Don’t speed through streets with crosswalks or where there’s a lot of foot traffic. 

Third solution: Pedestrians, do not assume that a car will stop if you are crossing when you do not have the right of way. If the red hand is on the crosswalk signal, do not cross, even if there is no traffic. Do not cross the street without being in a crosswalk, it is more dangerous for all involved. 

Overall, everyone can help stop accidents like the one that happened last week. Stay alert. Drive safely and keep an eye out for what other people are doing. You can’t control what others do, but you can control what you do. Be in charge of your own safety.