As we’ve noted in this newspaper more than once in the last few years, the corner of 13th and Main is a risky place to cross the highway.
That was made painfully evident Saturday when a 6-year-old boy, walking with a 22-year-old man, was struck by a van while crossing Main Street at that corner.
We’ve complained before on this page about drivers’ lack of attention to the law that requires vehicles to stop until pedestrians on the crosswalks have cleared not only the two lanes in the direction the driver is traveling, but, if applicable, the next lane as well. We’ve argued that the law doesn’t make a lot of practical sense, that it’s complicated and goes against both drivers’ and pedestrians’ natural instinct that vehicles should get the upper hand in a face-off. But it’s the law and it should be obeyed.
The reason for this unwieldy rule, of course, is that pedestrian safety is paramount. The question is whether the law actually contributes much to pedestrian safety.
It wouldn’t be surprising to hear suggestions that a signal might be necessary at the corner of 13th and Main. It’s true that, when traffic is heavy, it can be difficult to get across the highway at that point. Better to use the signaled crossing at 12th.
It’s also true that a signal would certainly make things more black and white for drivers, and safer for pedestrians.
Problem is, city officials have said in the past that a new signal at a different intersection would cost $75,000 for each direction on simple, two-lane intersections, and the sense we get is that a sizeable portion of the community is opposed to more traffic lights along Main Street.
(When you figure the cost of a signal compared to a police officer, that cop begins to look a lot more affordable, at least for the first few years.)
We believe that the answer is to crack down on scofflaws who don’t obey the crosswalk rules and who ignore the 25-mile-an-hour speed limit through downtown.
Tougher enforcement has helped reduce speeding problems on some streets in Sweet Home. If you’ve been paying attention to the number of tickets that have been handed out in recent months, after the Police Department shuffled things around to get more officers on the street, you’re probably more motivated to watch your speedometer more carefully.
When the police ran a crosswalk sting a few years ago, it generated a lot of complaints, but drivers were noticeably more careful. It was easier to cross the street for a while.
We realize that people hate stings and it is irritating, in a way, to be baited into a ticket. But the fact is, people who get busted are breaking the law and that’s why they got a citation.
Having said all that, let’s remember that we’re still talking in generalities about problems that existed prior to Saturday’s accident. The police had not, as of press time, determined officiallly who was at fault in that accident.
But the dangers exist and we believe that this unfortunate incident should be a wake-up call to local drivers, pedestrians, and the law enforcement community.
The young victim in this case wound up at Oregon Health Sciences University. If nothing changes, the next one could be in the mortuary.