sad event

[georgy.livejournal.com]

in case you were wondering why no fewer than four news copters were hovering over winter hill/east somerville this afternoon, click here. some jerk driver ran over a teenager at assembly square and killed him.

Comments

[temvald.livejournal.com]

Well, hold on. The design of Powderhouse Square takes a lot of the blame for that one. It's the only rotary I can think of off the top of my head that has pedestrian lights on it. And there's a reason--if you're driving, and come up to a busy rotary, then you have to spend all of your concentration watching the oncoming traffic waiting for a break so you can go into the rotary. And since it's practically unheard of to have pedestrian lights at the rotary, as soon as a break comes, you're probably going to take it first, and wonder why it is that all of the traffic has stopped second. Plus, of course, the fact that since you're looking to your left the whole time, and the lights are straight ahead, you're likely not to be able to see the light change at all. Bad, bad road design.

That's not to excuse drivers around here in general. Just pointing out that there are some places where that actually seem to encourage bad driving. Heck, you could probably devote an entire LJ community to just them.

[rdcf.livejournal.com]

wonder why it is that all of the traffic has stopped second

I'll agree it's poorly designed, but if all the other traffic has stopped that doesn't excuse the one or two idiots who don't stop just because they are taking advantage of a break in the traffic. I mean if the majority of the traffic is stopping then that means the majority of drivers see the lights and stop.

Let's not forget what we're talking about here, when it comes to vehicle versus pedestrian, the vehicle is always going to win. I'm not exaggerating when I say that crossing that rotary is the scariest part of my day.

And of course those pedestrians who just walk out in front of cars because they have the "right of way" is a whole 'nother discussion. :-)

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Yah, the only circle I've ever seen this poorly designed and difficult to navigate is Dupont Circle in DC which has not only traffic lights but also lanes. Ugh.