By Ron Davis Santa Monica
I felt compelled to write in on this issue. Thank you for the forum to express viewpoints.
Who’s to blame? The recent vehicular-pedestrian accidents seem to point a finger at the driver. This is most likely true. However, it seems to me that there are always two sides to a story.
Your article (SMDP, Dec. 11, page 1) relating to the issue on Ocean Park Boulevard and 18th Street quotes Lucy Dyke, “A lot of times, when we have accidents in the city, somebody is blatantly not paying attention to what they’re doing.” Also quoted was Sgt. Jay Trisler of SMPD, “There are benefits to crosswalks, but there are cases in which they provide a false sense of security.” In addition, he advises pedestrians to “be safe, be seen.”
These comments are right on target. No matter what planning or new techniques are developed for our streets, it will not improve the ratio of accidents unless the citizens improve their bad habits. I sit at a corner office right in front of a busy intersection. I see amazing things all day. I even had close calls being involved in possible accidents.
This morning, while I was crossing the intersection on a green light, a mother walking her child in a stroller was over anxious in crossing the street against her red light/don’t walk signal. She barely could wait for me to pass. Interestingly, she felt putting herself and child in front of danger was more appropriate than exercising patience for a minute and waiting her turn.
Conversely, I have seen motorists talking on their cell phone, looking around for a particular store and ignoring everything else around them. One person drove through a red light and almost hit me when it was my turn to cross.
Everyone needs to exercise more patience and caution. A word of advice I’m sure most of all our mothers taught us as children, when crossing the street, look both ways, look again, be sure cars see you and stop, then cross. As for motorists, remember your driver’s education class and those simulators? Maybe a refresher course is in order.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 16, 2004. Read the original PDF.