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# Killing pedestrians in a blink of a light
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/killing-pedestrians-in-a-blink-of-a-light-editor/
- Published: 2004-09-10T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:01:51.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Ocean Park, #archive-import

*By D.L. Darling Santa Monica*

Well, here we go again. Over the past few years Santa Monica has spent a lot of money on some dumb and unnecessary changes. The old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” does not apply to our beloved city. However, the latest idea of these crosswalks with the blinking lights are out and out dangerous.

In the last three weeks on two different occasions, I have personally seen pedestrians push the button and then, with no hesitation and without looking, step off the curb in front of oncoming traffic. This false sense of security is going to get someone killed.

Now Santa Monica is putting this death trap on Ocean Park Boulevard near the middle school. Most of these kids don’t pay too much attention under the best of conditions. I hope those who designed and implemented the blinking devices will feel intensely guilty when a few people are badly hurt or killed.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 10, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091004.pdf?ref=smdp.com)