Chief’s Corner
By Chief Steven J. Wojnar Dudley Police Department Now that fall is well underway and winter is looming, weather conditions are changing. This can cause difficulty for drivers when dealing with such issues as earlier darkness and solar glare. Clocks will fall back in early November also. I was asked to address the topic of pedestrian safety while on the roads. Also, some people traveling in pairs do not move to a “single file” manner when cars approach, while others walk with the flow of traffic. These situations can also be very dangerous. Based on all these factors, I was asked to provide some pedestrian safety reminders. The rules for use of streets are contained in both state laws and local regulations. If sidewalks are in place on a particular street, they should be used. If there are no sidewalks, people should walk along the shoulder of the roadway facing into traffic. You are likely to see a vehicle heading toward you if walking in this manner. Unless the shoulders of the road are particularly wide, there is little to no room for people to walk side by side without one person being on the roadway. The accident possibilities increase, especially when solar glare, inclement weather, early darkness, or other factors reduce a driver’s visibility. All precautions should be taken to stay off the roadway whenever possible. When you wish to cross the road, do this at crosswalks when they are available. If there are no crosswalks, pedestrians should yield the right of way to vehicles before crossing and avoid "jumping out" into traffic. The excuse of “pedestrians have the right of way” is used often to explain why people walk side by side in roadways or dart across a road in front of vehicles. This is never the correct way to think when it comes to pedestrian vs. vehicle situations. |
Of equal importance at this time of the year is to make every effort to be seen. Wearing reflective vests and or clothing is crucial. You should carry a flashlight or other device to illuminate your path and warn drivers. Darkness can increase the possibility of injuries, so take the extra precautions to be safe. In addition, many side streets, dead ends, or other lightly traveled locations may have people using a more relaxed approach to pedestrian rules. Do not forget the basic safety rules of looking both ways and paying attention to the possibility of cars. Vehicles may come from anywhere, so it is always important to treat these locations with the proper amount of caution. Sharing the road and respecting each other’s use of it will limit accidents and injuries.
Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St., Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at swojnar@dudleypolice.com. Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen. |
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