The Crosswalk Talk

Good evening All!

Every day, we see, read or learn about senseless deaths taking place at crosswalks in every state across America and around the world. You can especially see intense footage of such tragedies posted directly to social media. I mean, scenes that are hard to watch!

Now, we all know that crosswalks were put in place to protect our pedestrians. However, we have lunatic drivers out there that are in such a hurry and far too often ignore the crosswalk right of way, ultimately leading to some of the most tragic and violent deaths imaginable, especially when it involves our children.

As you listen to the story, you will learn about the unnecessary death of a young teenager caused by a driver in a hurry to beat the crosswalk right of way signal. The death is as tragic and brutal death as you can ever witness.

At the end of the day, I just want us to be more cognizant of our surroundings before we make the decision to negotiate a crosswalk area, especially for those of us with children. So with that said, parents and for anyone listening who knows of others who can use this important, life-saving plan, I issue you a challenge to first talk with your children and then implement my following 8-step Crosswalk Plan:

  1.  First and foremost, please have a conversation with your children about being extremely cautious before negotiating a crosswalk and even discussing fatality information with them, not to scare them but to inform them!

2.  Stress to them that it is very important to remove headphones, earbuds and get off their phones and pay attention to traffic before crossing.

3.  Talk to them about looking closely at whether there is a crosswalk signal to push. If so, push it, and then wait cautiously for at least a full 3-5 seconds before crossing to ensure that drivers know you have the right of way.

4.  If it is a non-signal crosswalk, if you see vehicles coming just pause in place, let drivers see that you intend to cross, make sure the vehicles come to a complete stop and then you cross.

5.  Drop the bad habit of running across the crosswalk just to beat the traffic because you are in a rush or you think it’s a fun game to outrun vehicles. 

6.  Drop the bad habit of talking on your phone with your head down and not looking out for danger while you cross. 

7.  Drop the bad habit of crossing over like you own the right of way and giving people mean-mug looks that can be taken the wrong way. 

8.  If you see our Elderly, Special Needs or someone struggling to make it across, take the time to assist them so that they have safe passage as well!