By Dave Jamieson
The Montgomery County Council just held a transportation subcommittee hearing dealing with pedestrian safety on the county’s roads, where 14 peds were killed last year. When it came to the prospect of slowing auto traffic for the benefit of people on foot, at-large Democratic councilmembers Nancy Floreen and Marc Elrich had very different takes on the subject.
Here’s Ms. Floreen, who lists traffic safety as one of her top priorities:
I’m sorry to be such a downer, but I don’t think we’re doing that great a job. I don’t think there should be any pedestrian deaths. We’re allowing [auto] mobility and speed to dominate the pedestrian existence, as long as we have community design issues that encourage speed… If someone can expect a smooth [and fast] trip to their destination, they’re going to expect it and they’re not going to look out for the pedestrian. We should give greater thought to our design standards. Who’s winning the speed battle? Shouldn’t we do all we can to allow the pedestrians more respect than our systems currently allow?
And here’s her foil, Mr. Elrich:
I don’t agree with Ms. Floreen that all pedestrian fatalities are avoidable. If you try to walk in front of moving cars at 25 miles per hour, [you might get killed]. If people think they can do anything they want do whenever they want, and that a driver can swerve and avoid them, that’s not a reality. People will die as long as they do stupid stuff. You can’t make this world so safe that no one can be harmed. The cost of doing that would be extraordinary.
https://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-on-foot/2010/10/pedestrian-traffic-deaths-moco-leader-says-that-they-re-not-avoidable–3472.htmloldId.20101025092621557
In 2008 the state of Vermont has zero pedestrian fatalities. Who says it can’t be done. Any by stupid stuff, we are taking about drivers, right?
Thanks for pointing out Vermont!
By in large the mentality here is "stupid stuff" means the pedestrian, no crosswalks anywhere nearby, it’s the pedestrains fault. Cars don’t stop for pedestrains in crosswalks so people start crossing mid-block, again the pedestrains is at fault.
Don’t get me wrong, stupid is on all sides of the issue, planning, drivers and pedestrains but as such all sides need to be addressed, and so far Maryland fails at doing that.