UNMC Safety Director John Hauser has reported a number of recent incidents and near misses on campus involving vehicles and pedestrians.
“While it is true that the pedestrian has the right of way, that does not always mean that drivers will stop and yield to pedestrians,” Hauser said.
During winter, the reduced hours of daylight brings increased risk. Pedestrians cannot assume a driver will stop. It is important for pedestrians to establish eye contact with the driver before stepping off the curb.
When crossing the street in front of Wittson Hall, or the Durham Research Center complex, pedestrians must be sure the driver is going to stop before starting into the crosswalk. Drivers have many distractions, and at times their minds may not be focused on driving.
“Use common sense and do not cross unless you feel it is safe to do so,” Hauser said. “Also, always use designated cross walks. Follow the cross walk signals. Do not start across if there is not enough time to get across the intersection.
“Traffic safety is a shared responsibility, so we must all do our part,” Hauser said.
See the sidebar at right for a list of safety tips for both pedestrians and drivers.
Fro drivers–The pedestrian crosswalk means PEOPLE walking across. The signs state that it's a state law to yield and not to speed up or try to "beat" the people walking across the street. Plus the speed are there for a reason–they are not for you to go around and into the path of other drivers or pedestrian walking across the street. This includes the campus delivery trucks and facilities vehicles as well. We all have to do our part to ensure our own safety.
You should mark the Walking path across parking lot 15 between COPH and the students appartments on 38th better. Especially now with all construction work ongoing there. Many drivers dont bother about all pedestrians there and park outside the marked stalls due to lack of space, so pedestrians crossing the lot are harder to detect too. This is dangerous.
This goes for bicyclists who share the road, too (yes, they legally belong on the road or designated trails and generally NOT on the sidewalks). Vehicles need to give cyclists their three feet of space and not cut them off at corners, and cyclists need to obey the rules of the road and be as visible as possible.
Is there anyway to improve the lighting at the pedestrian crosswalks? Especially the one on 42nd Street by Wittson Hall. At night it is hard to see pedestrians, especially if they are wearing dark clothing. Thanks.
Need to address speed in the garage- make some speed bumps to slow some drivers
When will the skybridge be done from Lot 50 to Durham Outpatient Building?