Due to tragic accidents like the recent death of Boryana Damyanova, pedestrian safety has been on the public's mind. The reaction from officials, however, has been appallingly weak.
While the creation of a task force is noble in theory, it envelops a simple problem in bureaucratic confusion. Traffic safety is an issue for only two parties: pedestrians and motorists. If there is a straightforward effort to target these two groups, the solution can be quick and effective.
A task force study that measured timing and volume of traffic as well as lighting and surface conditions would generate a great amount of data. But it should already be obvious to police officers and town officials which areas are high-risk for pedestrians.
A simple review of previous accident times and locations will indicate where the major problem lies. Any high pedestrian traffic area - such as Davis Square or around College Avenue in Somerville - should be made a priority. In addition, public safety
officials should be able to determine from their basic knowledge of the city where potential hazards are.
This practical knowledge will lend itself to a pragmatic solution. Immediately alerting all motorists and pedestrians of the risks, as well as the proper use of intersections, is the most logical answer.
The Medford Police Department has already started thinking about how it will alert motorists to dangerous intersections once the winter is over. Though placing orange barrels in the middle of an intersection may initially serve to notify drivers that the intersection is dangerous, it could shortly become routine.
One of the best possible ways to truly notify motorists and pedestrians alike is to increase the physical presence of police officers. This can be done in a short time frame. Once target locations are determined, public safety officials and police officers should participate in more routine patrols of the area. By simply demonstrating that the city's priority lies in traffic safety, officials can prompt increased caution on the part of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
This is not to say the police should be treating their patrols as ticket traps; rather, they should simply be acting in their roles as officers of public safety. The presence of a police officer instills a sense of caution in drivers. If officers were placed around dangerous locations, motorists would be more likely to drive cautiously.
In addition, pedestrians often feel comforted by the presence of a police officer if they have to cross an intersection. If police officers are present, pedestrians are more likely to be patient and wait for the traffic signal to turn before crossing.
Bumping up the police presence in high-risk areas will not just be effective for motorists and pedestrians as they use the intersections. If such an action is combined with a solid public-awareness campaign, the potential is enormous.
