Samantha Chaffin
Editor-in-Chief
a destination is not more important than a life
Samantha Chaffin
Editor-in-Chief
Yet another vehicle-pedestrian incident occurred near campus last week on Thursday, Jan. 22, this time taking place at the corner of Bonneville and Memorial Drive.
According to an article in the Idaho State Journal, two witnesses and three others assisted the victim until officers arrived.
For five individuals to have been on the scene before officers responded, it is clear to me that there were likely many more individuals, both pedestrians and vehicle traffic, in the general vicinity around the time of the accident.
Whether the driver was texting, adjusting the radio or genuinely couldn’t see the pedestrian, I don’t know. I also don’t know whether the pedestrian was too busy scrolling through his phone to look both ways before entering the road or whether he was in a crosswalk at the time of the incident.
To declare who was at fault or who can be blamed is neither my place nor my intent. The fact is that I know very little about this incident aside from basic facts as reported by the ISJ.
What I do know is that traffic, both pedestrian and vehicle, is a mess on campus, and both pedestrians and vehicles continue to make it worse by not practicing basic safety.
In my own perfect world, campus security and Pocatello Police would work to cite both pedestrians and drivers for failing to yield and posing a threat to safety. In addition, several of the public access roads that run through campus would be closed to the public and only university vehicles and emergency personnel would utilize these roads.
Unfortunately, my perfect world isn’t reality and reality is what we are dealing with.
Students walk around with the mentality that if they get hit, it’s the vehicle’s fault no matter what.
Meanwhile, vehicles drive around at or above the speed limit with little to no regard for the tens to hundreds of pedestrians that line the sidewalks and streets throughout the university area.
The fact is that a vehicle can’t stop on a dime, no matter how slow and careful they are being, and pedestrians on campus need to realize this. If a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, it’s not the vehicle that will suffer painful injuries or death, it’s the pedestrian.
I can’t speak for anyone else but even if I were to get hit by a car because the driver was texting and it’s entirely their fault, the fact is that, regardless, I just got hit by a car. That affects me and my life, provided I survive, which is no guarantee.
On the other hand, vehicles absolutely must put down their phones, take their foot off the accelerator and pay attention to pedestrians on the road and on the sidewalk preparing to enter the road.
Pedestrians in or entering a crosswalk have the right-of-way and you legally have to stop for them every time. Even if a pedestrian isn’t in a crosswalk, though, you have to be aware that they are there and you need to drive according to that.
I don’t care where you have to be, what text message you have to read or send or what phone call you have to make: lives are more important.
Drivers and pedestrians alike need to practice more safe, responsible habits around campus and in general. These vehicle-pedestrian incidents shouldn’t be a regular occurrence or a scenario increasing in frequency.
When you are driving through campus, you should know you will have to slow down and you will probably have to stop at nearly every crosswalk you come across. Plan for that.
Similarly, when walking through campus, be aware of your surroundings. Utilize crosswalks and look before stepping out into the street. Ultimately, it is you who will suffer if you get hit by a car, whether you had the right-of-way or not.
A driver may be cited or may be emotionally traumatized, but it is ultimately your life that is on the line and you share the burden of responsibility.
Leave it to public officials to reprimand drivers or pedestrians for bad behavior.
The next time you head out, keep in mind that your destination, your text message, your phone call, your music selection and anything else you can think of are all secondary to safety and the lives at risk every time you cross a street or get behind the wheel of a car.
