Schools

Candidate Robin Schlager Launches Pedestrian Safety Campaign

In the past two years, at least six people have been struck by cars in Montclair

 

In the past two years, at least six people have been struck by cars in Montclair, at least two fatally. Now Robin Schlager, who is running for 2nd ward councilor in the May 8 election, says she wants to do something to raise awareness of the dangers facing pedestrians.

Schlager has launched a pair of town-wide safety campaigns: "Drive with Care in Montclair" and "Cross with Care in Montclair."

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Schlager said she began looking into this issue after her 17-year-old daughter, a newly licensed driver, came home and asked if she had to stop when a pedestrian was crossing the street only if there were stripes in a crosswalk or just two plain lines.

“If she was confused, having just studied for her license, then I figured others must be, too,” said Schlager. “I asked some friends, and they all had different answers.”

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A curious Schlager began doing some research. She said that what she found was alarming.

One of the fatalities in Montclair occurred on Upper Mountain Avenue at Van Vleck Street in October 2011. Another occurred on Bellevue Avenue in March 2011. Elsewhere, two pedestrians were hit crossing mid-block near Midland and Bloomfield avenues. Another person was struck crossing South Fullerton at Plymouth. A Montclair High School student was hit crossing Grove Street at Oxford. And a young girl was struck at Valley and Wildwood. Her mom said the girl “was knocked out of her sneakers.” 

Through further investigation, Schlager learned that there are four different kinds of crosswalks in town: Ones with two parallel lines, ones with two parallel lines with diagonal lines, ones with fake brick (many of which are broken up), and some with a stenciled swirl pattern. The latter two cannot be seen at night. And the town is about to introduce yet another style in the South Park Street renovation project. 

Schlager said she next contacted the Montclair Police Department and met with Sgt. Stephanie Egnezzo.

“She was very informative, explaining that all cars must come to a complete stop at marked or unmarked crosswalks when there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk attempting to cross the road,” Schlager said. “In addition, crosswalks don’t always have to be defined by paint or striping. Unmarked crosswalks are defined by the lateral extension of the curb, shoulder, or edge of roadway and exist at every intersection.”

At the same time, Egnezzo advised that at an intersection with a traffic light, all vehicles and pedestrians are required to follow the traffic pattern signals regardless of whether there are marked crosswalks. What’s more, she noted that even when there is a crosswalk, pedestrians must exercise due care for their own safety. In other words, pedestrians must use their judgment as to whether a vehicle traveling at the speed limit has time to stop at crosswalk.

Indeed, Schlager added that some pedestrians ignore this responsibility for their own crossing safety.

“Throughout our town I see adults—some with strollers or walking dogs—crossing mid-street,” Schlager said. “These days, the situation is exacerbated by people looking at their cell phones rather than paying attention to traffic. We’re all in a hurry so it’s easy to do this. But, it’s so unsafe. I believe there must be constant reminders to cross at corners. Look what ‘buckle up for safety’ and ‘click it or ticket’ have done for fastening our seatbelts.” 

Schlager contacted Dr. Felice Harrison, assistant superintendent of schools, to bring a town-wide campaign into the public schools.

“We are now in the spring season and there are lots of students and residents crossing our streets and more and more young drivers every month getting their licenses,” Schlager said. “The first Monday of each month will be 'Walk To School Day.' We will be giving out stickers and t-shirts with crossing-safety logos on them. There will be assemblies in the schools and we will be making posters for storefronts to remind motorists and pedestrians of safety issues.”

Ultimately, said Schlager, “I hope through education and awareness, we can make the community a safer place for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, too.”

For more information on crosswalk safety, you can go to the New Jersey Department of Public Safety website at www.njsaferoads.com.

 


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