By When not directing traffic, BILL
THE DEATH OF A 90-YEAR-OLD SANTA Monica resident in a traffic accident a few weeks ago is a reminder that driving and crossing streets are about the most dangerous things we can do.
An elderly man crossing at the unmarked Idaho Avenue and Fourth Street intersection was hit and killed by a car just after 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 2. It appears that a parking placard hanging from the driver’s rear view mirror may have blocked the view and the possibility that the pedestrian didn’t look before crossing both may have contributed to the accident, said Santa Monica Police Lieutenant, Alex Padilla.
I’m surprised there haven’t been a lot more people killed on our streets. Most of the time, neither pedestrians or motorists pay attention. Distracted or aggressive drivers are a constant threat to life when I’m on foot. When driving, clueless pedestrians step in front of my car — mid-block, at corners — it doesn’t matter whether they look or not.
The rank stupidity and hostility demonstrated by pedestrian and motorist alike make you think you’ve seen everything until you see something even more outrageous. The most horrifying are the idiots who push children in strollers or drag toddlers into traffic without first checking to see what’s approaching. Couples, old ladies, old men, kids, and especially joggers walk or run in front of moving cars as if they weren’t there.
The last thing on earth I’d do is put my life in a total stranger’s hands. We’ve seen motorists on cell phones, drinking coffee, putting on make-up, looking down at something inside their vehicle — all while driving a ton of rolling steel. That’s not the person I’d trust to stop when crossing the street.
When I was a kid, I was told to look both directions and make sure that there are no moving vehicles nearby before crossing. To this day, I won’t step off the curb unless there’s at least a couple hundred feet of pavement between me and approaching vehicles or unless all cars have stopped. Making eye contact with the driver assures that he’s seen you — it doesn’t mean he’ll stop, though, By foolishly empowering pedestrians, the City of Santa Monica must take much of the blame for this dangerous situation. For years, City Hall and its politicians have conned pedestrians into thinking that because they have the legal right of way, drivers will automatically stop. It doesn’t always happen. That’s why people are maimed and killed.
The human body is no match for a ton of speeding metal with a moron behind its wheel. Step off the curb and you’ll bet your life that approaching motorists will see you, have good brakes, aren’t blinded by the sun or oncoming headlights, have time to stop, are paying attention or aren’t drunk or on drugs. Or, the Bozos who deliberately drive at you because they’re just a-holes.
Then, there are those well-meaning neighbors who demand more stop signs, traffic lights, speed bumps or lighted crosswalks when an accident happens. This even further lulls pedestrians into thinking that because signs or crosswalks are installed at an accident scene, it’s now safe to walk into traffic.
City Manager. Lamont Ewell was correct in suggesting a citywide publicity campaign reminding folks to “cross with care,” We need to replace “Watch for pedestrians” with “Look both ways,”“Don’t cross until it’s safe” and "Warning: Rotten drivers and mindless pedestrians do stupid things.”
The time is way overdue to reeducate pedestrians about the danger of challenging motorists by stepping in front of a moving vehicle and that they’ll live to joke with their friends about it. It’s also time to can the “pedestrians rule” crap before more people are injured and killed.
If the city is to get serious about traffic safety, the hiring of additional traffic enforcement officers is an absolute must to rein in dangerous drivers and indifferent pedestrians.
And while we’re at it, that goes double for most bicyclists who think that the rules of the road don’t apply to them. On average, about 75 percent of bicyclists I see when I’m out put themselves and others into grave danger by ignoring traffic signals and stop signs, riding on sidewalks or the wrong side of the street.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 14, 2007. Read the original PDF.