State Street pedestrian accident draws discussion
University Police, Student Senate consider pedestrian safety issues
Ashley Dziuk and Brian Reisinger
Issue date: 2/10/05 Section: Campus News
Like many students, junior Tracy Skillman said she was never overly concerned with the safety of walking across the street.
All that changed Jan. 31 when a car turning left from Lincoln Street suddenly struck her as she crossed State Street on the way home from work.
She said although the severity of her injuries hasn't been determined, she did suffer from bleeding and swelling, along with the anxiety she now feels.
"It's hard walking past that area," she said. "And thinking about (the accident) in everyday life."
Now when Skillman sees others carelessly crossing the street, concern is her immediate reaction, she said.
"It was a very traumatizing experience," she said.
Pedestrian accidents may occur more frequently than many may think. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2003 around 70,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic accidents in America. Out of those injured, 4,749 were killed.
This means on average, a pedestrian dies in a traffic accident every 108 minutes.
The University Police department has been aware of pedestrian safety issues on campus, said David Sprick, interim director of University Police.
"We encourage motorists to yield to pedestrians and for pedestrians to be safe while crossing at crosswalks," he said. "We educate people."
The university did receive some state grant funding through the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation for pedestrian and bicycle safety, Sprick said.
University Police received funding from 2001-03. That was all they were eligible for, he said.
The University Police have grant compliance guidelines that require them to show a number of warnings or citations given to either pedestrians or motorists, he said.
"We tracked a number of contacts and made a number of enforcement efforts," Sprick said.
There are certain areas where the risk is higher for pedestrians, such as the Water Street area, he said.
Student Senate also has been involved with pedestrian safety, said Director of Student Services Aaron Olson.
He said they always wanted crosswalks on the streets around campus to be repainted.
"We had pinpointed sections and parts of the streets that we feel need work," Olson said. "Either the crosswalk needs to be painted or it's too dark."
A resolution should be debated within the next month or two, he said, but it's going to be more of a community outreach project involving City Council.
"We have already passed a bill to install another blue light on campus," Olson said. "This (project) will have to do with the community at large."
All that changed Jan. 31 when a car turning left from Lincoln Street suddenly struck her as she crossed State Street on the way home from work.
She said although the severity of her injuries hasn't been determined, she did suffer from bleeding and swelling, along with the anxiety she now feels.
"It's hard walking past that area," she said. "And thinking about (the accident) in everyday life."
Now when Skillman sees others carelessly crossing the street, concern is her immediate reaction, she said.
"It was a very traumatizing experience," she said.
Pedestrian accidents may occur more frequently than many may think. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2003 around 70,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic accidents in America. Out of those injured, 4,749 were killed.
| "It was a very traumatizing experience." -Tracy Skillman Junior |
This means on average, a pedestrian dies in a traffic accident every 108 minutes.
The University Police department has been aware of pedestrian safety issues on campus, said David Sprick, interim director of University Police.
"We encourage motorists to yield to pedestrians and for pedestrians to be safe while crossing at crosswalks," he said. "We educate people."
The university did receive some state grant funding through the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation for pedestrian and bicycle safety, Sprick said.
University Police received funding from 2001-03. That was all they were eligible for, he said.
The University Police have grant compliance guidelines that require them to show a number of warnings or citations given to either pedestrians or motorists, he said.
"We tracked a number of contacts and made a number of enforcement efforts," Sprick said.
There are certain areas where the risk is higher for pedestrians, such as the Water Street area, he said.
Student Senate also has been involved with pedestrian safety, said Director of Student Services Aaron Olson.
He said they always wanted crosswalks on the streets around campus to be repainted.
"We had pinpointed sections and parts of the streets that we feel need work," Olson said. "Either the crosswalk needs to be painted or it's too dark."
A resolution should be debated within the next month or two, he said, but it's going to be more of a community outreach project involving City Council.
"We have already passed a bill to install another blue light on campus," Olson said. "This (project) will have to do with the community at large."
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kruegetd
kruegetd
posted 2/10/05 @ 3:29 AM CST
This problem could long ago have been mootified had the University and Community at large acted responsibly in increasing available parking on the University side of State St. (Continued…)
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