A rash of pedestrian-vehicle collisions in St. John’s in recent weeks is raising concerns with police and city officials
In the last two weeks, there have been six reported pedestrian-vehicle accidents near the downtown. Injuries have ranged from minor to severe. The crosswalk in front of city hall, despite being well-lit and with a pedestrian-activated traffic light, has been the scene of two of the recent incidents.
The City of St. John’s is studying the issue, and has joined the RNC in urging extra caution for both drivers and pedestrians at road crossings.
The Telegram recently hit the streets to ask people for their thoughts on the subject,
Here’s what some of them had to say:
“Last week I, too, came close to hitting pedestrians with my car. Both times I had the right of way with the crossing hand light indicators once flashing and once on steady — meaning don’t cross and be careful crossing. Both times the pedestrians completely ignored them and proceeded to cross assuming they have the right of way.
“This happens regularly with the younger crowd regardless if they’re at a crosswalk or not. I’m not sure if it’s that me me attitude coming through again or they truly believe they have the right of way regardless of what the crossing indicators display. Perhaps some in the public need to retake street crossing lessons from their parents?
Wayne Lent
“I don’t know what’s happening with drivers and people on crosswalks. I work downtown during the day and at lunchtime every day I go for a walk. But when it comes to crossing on a crosswalk it’s like you are taking your life in your own hands. Just yesterday I came so close to be knocked down twice.
“The first incident happened at the cross walk on Duckworth by Bates Hill. I stopped to look to make sure it was clear to cross Duckworth street. A car was travelling west so I stayed put to make sure she would stop. Of course, she didn’t. As she passed me she had her head turned looking in the opposite direction.
The second incident happened at the intersection of New Gower Street and Waldegrave Street. I was going west on New Gower just to the Convention Center about to cross at crosswalk at the turn off lane to get to lights to cross Waldegrave. I stepped out on crosswalk and this lady driven black sports car came barreling up Waldegrave. Only for I jumped back on sidewalk I would have been hit.
“She didn’t stop, just continued to drive away speeding. So, it’s not only at night I walk a lot and have had so many close calls with cars not stopping at crosswalks it’s unbelievable. I don’t know how people get their licenses.”
Vicki Hartery
“My husband and I are pedestrians. We’ve never had a car, although now that we have an 11-month-old we might actually get our licenses, 20 years in the making. As pedestrians, we’ve have tons of close calls, while we’re walking together, walking by ourselves, and walking with our 11-month-old and dog. We've always been super cautious but that doesn't stop the close calls. We walk with reflective safety vests at night and have had close calls.
Just last week my husband was crossing the crosswalk and had a near-miss by a crazy speeder while he was wearing his vest. I’ve had tons of close calls taking my baby places. The most awful intersection I’ve found is the one at Freshwater/Merrymeeting/Adams. Cars turning left from Adams onto Freshwater cannot see the pedestrian signal light when they're in the left-hand turn lane (or in the go straight lane).
Also, their signal turns green at the same time the pedestrian signal is a go, so it’s especially dangerous unless you’re a pedestrian that knows they can't see your go light. More often than not cars come flying over the hill to turn left and assume they have the right of way over oncoming cars going straight.
“It’s a crazy intersection and something needs to be done about it.”
Jennifer Beale
