You May Be Dead Right!

Our friend, Mark Scholz, was going about the business of life on Tues. Aug. 9, around 3:30 to 4 p.m., when a call came for him to rush to the hospital. His story:
“I want to share what happened yesterday with my cousin, my aunt and a friend of theirs. They were driving in Sea Isle City and approached a crosswalk when a woman, pregnant at least eight months, stepped into a crosswalk in front of them. My cousin applied the brakes and stopped for her and the car behind them slammed into her.
“The three in her car and the four in the car behind her all ended up in the hospital. Thank God my cousin kept her foot on the brake rather than plow forward and hit the lady who was right in front of her.
“We were discussing this with the doctor, about how many people have seen so many close calls with this new law (http://www.nj.gov/lps/hts/pedestrian.html). The doctor said people really should go back to common sense; stop and be courteous to people, but be careful, because not everyone behind you is paying attention. They are not expecting you to stop all of a sudden.
“And pedestrians are starting to have an attitude, because they know the law now, and think, everybody stops for me. They may be dead right.
“And double lane highways are the worst. They are crossing on red lights, thinking they have the crosswalk and the right of way and the car has to stop even though you have a green light, which is really horrible. I have experienced it myself, rolling my window down, hollering at the people, What are you doing!”
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This event has really registered a note of alarm to me as we live on a busy street in Wildwood Crest and get to see a lot of mayhem caused by the April 1, 2010 New Jersey law. Under the old law, cars had to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks; now they must stop and stay stopped or face a $200 fine and 2 points (logical exceptions apply). With these penalties, drivers are getting jumpy.
Further, ignorance of the new law makes both marked and unmarked intersections seem like a free pass for pedestrians. It seems that the attempt to reduce deaths for those walking our streets has only made it more dangerous for everybody involved.
Just in one week, I have seen two near misses and was involved in a third. In two instances one driver stopped properly for beachgoers to cross the street, but the car behind, not seeing the pedestrians, pulled around to pass. Fortunately the passing car was able to stop in time.
The third occurred at night as concert attendees were leaving Centennial Park after a festive time of music and relaxation. Our family, complete with toddlers and stroller riders, were crossing at the intersection and the cars were stopped in both directions when once again the driver second in line couldn’t see us and pulled around to pass. Needless to say, we were frightened and grateful that all were safe.
Before the new law, pedestrians waited for the road to clear, then crossed. Now, because cars are stopping, the pedestrians feel safe to step into the intersection. Unfortunately, the cars behind don’t see what is happening, and are creating this new hazard.
This law needs to be reexamined. Also the law does not give you permission to cross just anywhere but only at intersections and then with the light, where there is one. It seems that height of foolishness to step out in a contest against a vehicle that can take your life.
Both drivers and walkers need to be very cautious on our busy summer streets. No one wants to be DEAD RIGHT.
Patricia Hall