Traffic Problems – the Only Real Solution

Last night I attended a local meeting at our public middle school on traffic and safety around the school. We have had some incidents recently and over that last few years with students getting hit by cars at a busy intersection near the school. This meeting had our local councilman, a member of the school board, a traffic engineer, a nurse from the area children’s trauma hospital, and a few of our local enforcement officers in attendance. Part of the meeting was so our council member could boast about some measures he has taken to help with the traffic on our busy road and improvements with regard to the safety of the pedestrians (mostly children). I must give him credit for acknowledging the problem and at least making an effort. Although, I do recall that the major intersection where there are now stoplights, no turn on red signs, and countdown timers for pedestrians crossing did not exist before a school aged child was killed crossing there. When that tragedy happened there was no stop sign, no traffic light, nothing. But, it usually takes a tragedy to happen before any action takes place. OK, back to the meeting. The focus of the meeting was about measures that the city is planning to help ease the flow of morning and afternoon “drop-off” and “pick-up” traffic around the school. These measures were mainly just some re-striping of the lanes on the adjacent roads to allow left and right turn lanes, and take away a few on-street parking places near the intersections. It was enough to make some people feel good, but I don’t think it is nearly enough. The problem is that there is just simply too much traffic for the area. There is really little anyone can do to relieve the congestion and improve the safety except reduce the number of vehicles coming through the area. The school and surrounding neighborhood was built about 40 years ago when there was not so much traffic. That was when nearly all students walked or biked to school. Now they are all chauffeured to school by a parent. Everyone is scared to walk to school because of so much traffic. Yet, they are contributing to the very problem they want to solve. I wonder how many people see the irony in that?
If you want to see our roads get safer, there are two things I know of that can help. The first thing costs you nothing and you can start doing it the next time you get in your car – slow down. Just try driving at or even a little below the speed limit. I know, it is a pretty far out concept, but don’t worry…you will actually get to your destination about the same time you would have by speeding. The second option, and I know this one is a killer, is to not drive everywhere. If your destination is within a half mile to a mile, why not try walking? It really won’t take much longer that driving, and I know everyone can use the exercise. And, if you are really a crazy wacko, you can try riding a bike to some of the local destinations. I know it sounds absurd, but believe me, it is doable. I have done it several times. You just gotta try it. The bottom line is that nothing is going to solve traffic problems until there are fewer cars on the road.