Citizens need to follow the rules of the road
Kathy Aragon, P.T.
Board Member - BikeWalk Montana (a statewide voice for those who walk and bike)
Safe Routes to School Network Organizer (2010-2012) through a grant made possible by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Kaiser Permanente
Parent of 3
October is International Walk to School Month. October is the month when kids and communities all over the world celebrate the simple joy and practical skill of self-transport http://www.iwalktoschool.org/ But today, a 13-year-old Montana boy lies in the hospital fighting for his life because he was hit by a driver while walking to school.
We need safer streets, roads designed to slow traffic where people live, work and play. Streets for all road users of all ages and abilities. Thirty percent of our population travels by foot, bike or wheelchair. They are our most vulnerable travelers and it is gross negligence to disregard their needs. We as citizens expect our streets and communities to be designed for the safety of everyone, especially the most vulnerable; it’s our tax dollars that pay for street design and construction. The recent rash of injuries to people walking and bicycling should give us all a wakeup call; a call that reminds us we can all do better whether we are traffic engineers, motorists, walkers or bicyclists.
Every citizen has the right to safely walk or bicycle to school, work, play or other activities of daily living. Driving, on the other hand, is a privilege and requires a driver reach a certain level of proficiency and take responsibility for operating a motor vehicle. Distracted or inattentive driving, speeding in poor driving conditions, as well as walkers or bikers who don’t follow the rules of the road have all been responsible for injuries and even deaths on our streets.
Education is essential. If you are walking or biking, follow the rules of the road, be proactive, make yourself visible, be predictable, and make sure that you have the attention of drivers when navigating street traffic. A predictable walker or bicyclist helps drivers anticipate and interface safely. Kids need to learn the rules of the road early in life and be educated by family, teachers and other community members; it will take a village to keep our cities and towns safe. It requires that each of us, including our elected and appointed officials, makes a commitment. While our elected and appointed officials have many responsibilities, the most basic is to keep citizens safe. What can you do to improve community safety today?