Crosswalk tragedy cause for concern everywhere

The recent death of a Dartmouth teen struck by a motorist was a tragic event that captured the attention of pedestrians and drivers alike.

Serious concerns regarding crosswalk safety have risen from three separate incidents in as many weeks where pedestrians have been struck by vehicles while trying to walk across the street. The death of 14-year-old Kaitlyn Murray, killed by an 84-year-old driver at Pleasant St., Dartmouth, sent an entire community into mourning. But the most telling part of the tragedy was an organized roadside vigil where over 150 youth gathered at the site where she was killed.

During the event, police cruisers with flashing lights and neon signs failed to catch the attention of many drivers who sped through the roadside ceremony. Some drivers actually chastised the youth for slowing traffic.

The cavalier attitude of speeding motorists who fail to stop for pedestrians seems to be growing. That the driver who killed Kaitlyn Murray was 84 years old has raised questions about reaction times of older motorists. Ironically, a recent traffic study carried out near the Armdale Rotary indicated the majority of speeding drivers were women in their late 30s who were heading to or coming home from work and not, as expected, young joyriders.

Driver attitudes have changed dramatically over the past few decades, indicated by higher incidents of road rage and reluctance to accept responsibility. A 59-year-old struck and killed 16-year-old Mary Beth Chaulk of Dartmouth in March of last year and said later that the death was a “simple accident.” I'm sure such words are of little comfort to the parents and family of the dead girl.

In the past few years there have been several cases of pedestrians being struck in marked crosswalks in Windsor. One young girl was seriously injured when a senior struck her as she attempted to cross the street at a crosswalk. The father told The Journal at the time he couldn’t believe the attitude of the driver who, he said, greeted the incident with incredulity.

It could be argued that due to skyrocketing insurance rates, many drivers opt to point the finger anywhere but at themselves to establish a remote element of doubt over the facts. Despite public pressure for better marked crosswalks in Windsor, the Town has said it can’t afford to make necessary changes such as install overhead lighting at busy crosswalks.

Windsor should take a closer look at how towns such as Wolfville have dealt with similar instances of crosswalk safety. Wolfville has a much greater pedestrian population due to the university and many changes were implemented to deter crosswalk accidents.

Indeed, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hit by a car or truck in the town. The responsibility lies with both driver and pedestrian, and the political body that marks the site. Drivers need to more aware and pedestrians need to keep a watchful eye to ensure drivers see them before stepping out to cross the street.

The Town needs to take the lead to prevent future accidents. By using paint that creates a raised appearance, increasing the number of signs indicating where crosswalks are located and biting the bullet to install lighting above crosswalks located at the busiest intersections would help to decrease the possibility of a tragedy. Any positive changes at crosswalks would be welcome, and just may help save a life. That would be worth every penny.