Do you own a cell phone and enjoy corresponding through text message, snap chat, instant messenger, and the like? The majority of the people on campus would answer “Yes.” How often to do you notice fellow students walking, eyes fixated on their smart phones, not paying any mind to the swarms of people and vehicles around them? The common answer would undoubtedly be, “Every minute, every hour, and every day.” There is a tendency to assume everyone can see us. Clearly, we are on the phone with very important matters, therefore please step aside. But, do we have the right?

According to the Winona Post, 39 pedestrians have been struck by vehicles in the crosswalk within the past 10 years. These accidents are certainly preventable. In conducting research and a general consensus, there are varying views on who is at fault when these accidents occur. On one hand, pedestrians have the right of way at all times. If those driving motor vehicles were paying attention to the surroundings, maintaining a safe speed, and adhering to the laws of the road, we wouldn’t have an issue. Anyone can witness the distracted drivers who break the law throughout town. Drivers are constantly running right through crosswalks at dangerous speeds. They slam to a halt (if they stop at all), without looking both ways to acknowledge a bicyclist or pedestrian outside of the peripheral view. In a community such as ours, with a vast population being students and elderly, drivers have a responsibility to assume a pedestrian will make an attempt to cross the road at a crosswalk, especially around campus.

On the other hand, pedestrians have a responsibility to be aware of their surroundings and not assume that all drivers know of their existence. When you walk down the sidewalk and approach a crosswalk, STOP! Take a look to your left, your right, and back again. If it is dark, make extra special care to let drivers aware that you’re there. Make eye contact with any approaching vehicle. Give a little wave to say, “Thank you for stopping, I appreciate that you see my intention of crossing the road. Now you wait your turn because I have the right of way.”

City council will debate and decide if they will make any updates to the roads in order to provide a safer environment. Multiple proposals have been made and it is unknown if any action will take place. However, we can keep ourselves safe in the meantime by simply looking. Take your eyes off of your phone or put it away when you are walking, especially into the road. When you hear that “pah-ding!” move over to a safe place to stop and respond. Don’t let texting and walking have the same results as texting and driving.

Sincerely,

Bekki Puppe