As the darkness descends further on our gloomy, evening homeward commutes; it’s about now we hear the sage advice from all concerned about how to cross the road in the dark.
Apparently, we’ve to make eye contact with the driver. Really?
First off, it’s dark. If Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood (my favourite actors) were in the front seats, I wouldn’t know.
Second, the rain is usually bouncing off the ground, reducing visibility for both pedestrian and driver to “in front of your hand” distances.
And third, it’s Richmond, where no amount of “eye contact” seems to lend any confidence to venturing a size 10 sole onto the most secure, marked crosswalk.
Case in point last week, while attempting to traverse the deathtrap of a crosswalk outside our new office on Ackroyd Road adjacent to PriceSmart, I indulged in said “eye contact’ with a passing motorist.
Yep, he made eye contact alright, slowed down as if to stop to let me cross, but then, as I walked the black and white striped tightrope, he sped up, almost reducing my size 10s to a nine and glared at me as if I’d just questioned his parentage (which I seriously considered, if not for the proximity of my office).
Needless to say, in Richmond, eye contact just doesn’t cut it. What we really need is hand and verbal communication and, just to be super-safe, those oversized cue cards — in several languages.
Maybe then, and only then, I won’t be taking my life into my hands trying to partake of the More Rewards deal on Scotch pies at the supermarket across the street.
But really, to my mind, there’s no reason why someone should get killed crossing a road.
Pedestrian fatalities should not happen, unless you’re playing chicken on a highway.
When I fly in a plane, base-jump from a skyscraper and even drive a car, I accept an element of risk.
Crossing the street to get to the other side? I don’t think so.
I don’t know the exact circumstances that led to the tragic death of a 68-year-old Richmond woman in the city centre more than two weeks ago; but I do know that it was needless, senseless and simply shouldn’t have happened, whoever ultimately gets blamed.
So, as the shadows lengthen towards the shortest day of the year (Dec. 21), here’s a quick shout out to all you pedestrians and drivers out there in dangerous, downtown Richmond:
* It’s dark at 4:30 p.m.; pedestrians — don’t dress as if en route to a Black Panther pot luck; drivers — slow down, use that stick to the side of your steering wheel (it lets us all know your intentions) and if someone’s standing at a marked crosswalk, nine times out of 10, they want to cross the street.
This way, we all live longer and I won’t be reporting any tragic news from my beautiful, window seat on Ackroyd.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Alan Campbell is a reporter with the Richmond News
