Just because you’re in a crosswalk, don’t think you’re safe.
On Tuesday a woman was struck by a car on Riverside Avenue, near Jr’s Hot Dog Stand.
As noted on WestportNow, one car stopped — legally, as it must — to let her cross. A very impatient driver drove around the stopped vehicle, hitting the pedestrian.
Office workers told WestportNow that the crosswalk has been the site of “numerous pedestrian accidents and near misses.”
The crosswalk on Riverside Avenue, at South Sylvan. It’s clearly marked.
It’s not the only one like that in town.
At the other end of town, the crosswalk between Goodwill and Stop & Shop is notorious for anyone trying to cross over to buy Westfair’s sushi or deli. Drivers who do stop there always worry about getting rear-ended by drivers flying by.
The crosswalk between Goodwill and (shown at left) Stop & Shop.
A bit west, the crosswalk by Sasco Creek Village was where popular Westport schools custodian and Trader Joe’s worker Billy Ford was killed in December 2008.
That crosswalk now features a warning sign, with blinking lights. Unfortunately, they’re hard to see in daytime. So they might actually do more harm than good. Pedestrians may have a false sense of security after pushing the button.
The crosswalk where Billy Ford was killed now includes blinking lights (right). They’re hard to see — but the white markings are not.
Bottom line: Pedestrians in marked crosswalks have the right of way. Drivers who see a pedestrian crossing — or about to cross — must stop.
But this is Westport. Our town is filled with Very Important Drivers. So pedestrians must expect the expected.
Like some asshat trying to go around a stopped vehicle, just to save 3 extra seconds.
