“Precaution is better than cure.” – Edward Coke
As a youngster, I was asked the riddle “Why did the chicken cross the road?”
Being as philosophical as I was, even at a young age, I came up with a barrage of answers – to no avail. The answer, to my disappointment, was simple: “to reach the other side.”
The years have passed, too quickly it seems. I still remember that inane riddle. Riddles aside, it’s important to “reach the other side” safely, especially for young school–aged children. Crosswalk safety is a responsibility shared by both driver and pedestrian. Any time of year warrants crosswalk safety but especially now, as children return to school.
The rules on speeding in school zones
Drivers are reminded that speeding in school zones has serious consequences. Choosing to ignore both crosswalks and school zone signage is not worth the consequences, either financially or worse, the taking of a young life. A first offense for speeding in a school zone includes $352.50 and two points on a driver’s license for speeds exceeding 1-15 km/h over the speed limit. The fines and points imposed increase for speeding with possible license suspension.
Amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act to improve crosswalk safety in Nova Scotia were proposed by the Joint Crosswalk Safety Task Force appointed in 2007. This Force was created in response to citizens’ concerns about crosswalk safety. Too many pedestrians were getting injured, or worse, killed. “Seventeen children aged 0 to 14 years were killed in pedestrian incidents in Canada in 2020. On average, there were about 1000 child pedestrian injuries each year.”
Some amendments proposed to include an offense for pedestrians that cross when the “Don’t Walk” symbol flashes or requiring pedestrians to yield right-of-way to drivers if crossing at a location aside from a crosswalk. The ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving was one of the amendments that has been in effect for a while. Most abide, but nearly enough.
As in construction zones, fines double in school zones. Regulated enforcement needs to co-exist with education, modifying society’s attitude towards safety. Driver distraction increases the risk of accidents. Electronic devices, both in vehicle and personal, provide opportunities for inattention in areas. This in-vehicle personal space should not be seen as a time for minimal attention to surroundings. Driving isn’t a simple everyday task. We’ve become too complacent in driving. Awareness should be paramount at all times.
Pedestrian responsibility
Pedestrians have their responsibilities. Talking or texting or listening through headsets while attempting to cross the street greatly reduces awareness. The focus needs to be on crossing the road safely. Studies indicate that nearly two-thirds of drivers speed through school zones. This is a problem when considering that most young children, especially those under ten, have difficulty judging vehicle distance or how fast vehicles are moving. They’re easily distracted when talking or playing. They’ll assume that a driver has seen them, will obey crosswalk rules, and stop. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
The old adage “Stop, Look and Listen” still holds true; it’s very essential now. But there’s more to be learned. Studies have also shown that a pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling 60km/hour has a 93 percent chance of being killed. At a speed of 50km/hr, the chance of death is reduced to 73 percent. At 30 km/hr, the survival rate is 95 percent. Simply put, slowing down at crosswalks saves lives.
So why did the chicken cross the road? To reach the other side – safely.