US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has called for improved road safety to protect pedestrians from accidents.
Posted at 11:00 a.m.
Indeed, according to an American organization, the number of pedestrians caught up increased by 46% between 2010 and 2019. In the dock, we find vehicles, especially SUVs, which are getting bigger and bigger.
Let it be said, the pedestrians who are caught to death in our streets and on our roads are the victims of an untold tragedy. I have worked as a truck driver for over 30 years and believe that every injury and death caused by traffic accidents is too much.
The road is my office. I see a lot of things there every day, but I must also admit that I am surprised at the unconsciousness of some people.
In fact, I have to admit that despite my favorable bias towards pedestrians, many of them are becoming more and more reckless. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but I’ve been noticing this strange phenomenon for almost 10 years. I’m not talking about our old people here, but adults with all their faculties.
How many times have I seen a pedestrian cross an intersection without even looking both ways? In fact, it makes my blood run cold.
Adults explained to me in my childhood that you had to have eye contact with vehicle drivers in order to be able to cross a street safely. It makes you wonder if this rule of common sense is still applicable today.
What about people who cross the streets between intersections? Or of those who violate the Highway Safety Code, believing that red lights do not exist for walkers?
Don’t get me wrong here: motorists, truckers, motorcyclists and, of course, cyclists must exercise the utmost caution with respect to walkers. But pedestrians also have an obligation to be careful and respectful. I would like to remind you here that road safety does not rest solely on the shoulders of other road users.
As for our seniors, there should be safe zones in the middle of large busy intersections so that they can take a break between two cycles of traffic lights. In addition, the duration of the crossing time, of priority to pedestrians, should be extended to accommodate everyone.
Of course, the number and size of vehicles would have to be reduced substantially, but that is a battle that will take a long time.
Until we get there, the best way to improve our road safety record is still to respect all other road users, to remain vigilant when crossing an intersection and to give our seniors time to move at their own pace.
This is how we will put an end to the carnage among pedestrians.