According to D.C. officials, 27 pedestrians have been killed in traffic accidents this year so far, the most since the city began tracking in 2002. While the fatality count may seem high compared to years past, problems with pedestrian safety are all too familiar for AU students accustomed to the dangerous intersections around campus.
The Ward Circle, Katzen Arts Center and New Mexico Avenue crossings can all be hazardous, with visual obstructions, four-lane traffic and short signal times for walking. Adding preoccupied students and hurried drivers to the mix doesn't help the situation. Just earlier this year, two students were hit crossing Nebraska Avenue at Tenley Circle. Luckily, no one was killed.
This year's D.C. pedestrian safety campaign holds pedestrians and drivers accountable for paying attention to traffic laws and looking both ways before crossing. Though many may feel that funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars into radio ads and billboards is not an effective way to change human behavior, well-targeted and intelligent public awareness campaigns do work.
Despite the high death count, the District should be commended for its efforts to educate the public though easy-to-understand and powerful statistics. While a person hit by a car going 40 mph has a 90 percent chance of death, the risk of fatality drops to 20 percent if the driver is traveling at 30 mph. D.C. also held demonstrations on how long cars need to fully stop when traveling at different speeds.
By highlighting such simple actions that everyone can take to reduce hazards on the roads, D.C. is marketing an attainable and practical plan. Students, drivers and all Washingtonians should keep the city's campaign in mind - the life you save might be your own.
