More pedestrians were killed in Maine last year than in any of the previous 20 years, and we’re on track this year to break that sad — and often preventable — statistic.
The issue became painfully real for the city of Lewiston early this month when 13-year-old Jayden Cho-Sargent was struck and killed while crossing Main Street on his way to school. The teen was properly crossing in a crosswalk, one marked with a yellow sign pointing it out to motorists.
The third pedestrian fatality in Lewiston this year prompted city councilors, school directors, city staff and others — including dozens of families — to call for action.
The issue is complicated. It’s not just about getting motorists to observe speed limits, stop at crosswalks and be more aware of people attempting to cross. It’s also about expecting pedestrians to observe traffic rules for their own safety, using crosswalks rather than crossing mid-street, following walk/don’t walk signals and being more aware of their surroundings. While not the law, a good rule of thumb for pedestrians is always make eye contact with drivers before crossing any road.
Let’s take a look at what were identified as problem areas at Wednesday’s forum:
• Lisbon Street nearly Bleachery Hill
There are no lights and no crosswalks on the stretch of Lisbon Street by Bleachery Street, and on up the hill. Here, cars have the right of way.
• Lisbon Street near Scribner Boulevard
There is a well-marked crosswalk across Lisbon and a traffic light. Pedestrians must cross in the crosswalk, with the light.
• East Avenue near the high school
There is a light and crosswalk controlling traffic and pedestrian flow, and a yellow sign pointing directly to the crosswalk. The pedestrian right-of-way is clearly marked.
• Five corners where Central Avenue connects with Sabattus, Ash and Webster streets
There are lights and crosswalks to all intersections here, too, and signs warning motorists that pedestrians have the right of way.
• Central Avenue near the Lewiston Middle School
There is a crosswalk at Central Avenue and Vale Street and another at Central and Campus Avenue, on each end of the large block where the middle school sits. There is no crosswalk directly in front of the school, where children are dropped off and must cross the street at all hours of the school day.
Motorists who drive past the middle school and make the left onto Campus will encounter four crosswalks between that corner and the intersection with College Street.
Four. Located at various street corners and mid-block.
So, in a span a little over that of the middle school property, there are four crosswalks on Campus Avenue where it cuts through Bates College.
At the middle school? None.
That has to be fixed.
Not only that, the crosswalks on Campus are rectangular longitudinal stripes.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, longitudinal stripes “significantly increase the visibility of a crosswalk to oncoming traffic” and have been “shown to increase motorist yielding and channelization of pedestrians.”
In other words, they work better than more traditional “traverse” lines.
The city should make painting longitudinal stripes across Central Avenue for middle-schoolers an absolute priority. Maybe even before students return from Thanksgiving vacation.
And, while drivers may not like it, similar striping should be considered at Bleachery Hill. There is a lot of foot traffic there and absolutely no pedestrian crossings, forcing people to dart through breaks in fast-moving traffic. A little police presence there to manage the speed limit wouldn’t hurt, either.
Fix it now, before it becomes the next statistic.
And, there will be another statistic.
On Wednesday — the same day as the pedestrian safety forum — 58-year-old Rebecca Shaver was struck and injured while crossing Blake Street at Pine just after 10 a.m., walking in a marked crosswalk. The driver failed to yield the right of way.
Who’s next?
jmeyer@sunjournal.com
Here are the rules:
People
• When a sidewalk is available, people may not walk in the street.
• When a sidewalk is not available, people must walk facing approaching traffic on the left side of the road, or in the shoulder when available.
• It is against the law to cross between adjacent intersections where traffic lights are operating, except in a marked crosswalk. No crossing mid-block when crosswalks are available.
• At intersections where traffic lights are operating, pedestrians must observe walk/don’t walk signals. Just because a traffic light turns green doesn’t mean you can cross.
• Do not cross an intersection diagonally, unless authorized by official traffic-control devices. Don’t cut corners.
• It is against the law to suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the operator to yield. Don’t dart into the street.
• Pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to a vehicle when crossing an unmarked way. Outside crosswalks, cars rule.
Cars
• Drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing in a marked crosswalk and to pedestrians who have shown visible intent to enter a crosswalk. If you’re pulling up to a crosswalk, look for people crossing or about to cross, and stop.
• If a driver comes to an intersection or crosswalk where a car is allowing a person to cross, the driver of the vehicle approaching from the rear may not overtake or pass the stopped vehicle. Just wait.
• When a pedestrian is walking in the road, drivers must give that person at least 3 feet of clearance when passing. A motor vehicle may pass a pedestrian in a no-passing zone only when it is safe to do so. Slow down and go wide to pass people.
• When cars turn into driveways that cross sidewalks, drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing the driveway. What does that mean? You may start a turn, but must wait until the person is safely across the driveway before turning in.
• If a driver sees a pedestrian in the road who is impaired — a blind person carrying a cane or using a guide dog, or someone who is otherwise impaired (as in drunk) — a driver must stop. Obviously impaired pedestrians have the right of way crossing any street anywhere. Drivers who fail to yield can be fined between $50 and $1,000.
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