To see a video on LSU’s crosswalks, click here.
To view an interactive map of vehicle-pedestrian accidents on LSU’s campus, click here.
Eight days ago, Ginger Clements was on a Nicholson Extension crosswalk, heading to class in Taylor Hall when a car going 30 mph struck her and threw her about 20 feet.Clements, business administration graduate student, sustained minor injuries. But the accident could have been avoided.Both the victim and the driver were on cell phones when the accident occurred, according to the LSU Police Department.Chancellor Michael Martin said constant distractions and inconsistent crosswalk signs on campus have contributed to the number of pedestrian accidents in the last five years. To help avoid these accidents, the University and Student Government are working to improve crosswalk safety.”Students are a little more disconnected from their immediate environment,” Martin said. “They’re crossing a very active campus while being distracted.”LSUPD has responded to 23 incidents of vehicles hitting pedestrians since November 2003.Of the 23 incident reports, nine involved University students. Six of those involved students drivers, and all nine involved student pedestrians.After Easy Streets’ implementation in summer 2007, nine pedestrian accidents were reported, with two occurring inside the gates. The drivers’ affiliations with the University in these two accidents were not identified in the police reports.LSUPD spokesman Maj. Lawrence Rabalais said the number of pedestrian accidents is “very low” considering the large amount of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.While a majority of signs on campus tell drivers to “stop for pedestrians in crosswalk,” a sign near the corner of Highland Road and Raphael Semmes Road, connecting the Student Union to several residential halls, instructs pedestrians to “yield to vehicles.”Signs along Nicholson Extension don’t have instructions for pedestrians or drivers — they show only the location of crosswalks.Martin said the University is working to change a majority of the signs on campus through the Wayfinding Project.Rabalais said there are many aspects to consider when changing signs because of the state and city agencies involved.Highland Road and Nicholson Extension are city-owned streets, and Nicholson Drive is a state-owned highway.”But we’re going to get down and survey these signs and make sure they’re well-labeled and not misinforming anyone,” he said.The LSU Wayfinding Management Team is hosting a presentation Thursday in the Energy, Coast and Environment Building from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to gather opinions about the concept signs.Clay Boulware, general studies senior, said he’s almost been hit by a car more than once. He thinks the responsibility goes both ways.”In front of [Taylor Hall], there’s so many people crossing the street all the time,” he said. “People just want to get by, you get impatient and try to beat the next wave of people coming through.”SG President Colorado Robertson said he is working with Facility Services to draw up plans to renovate or update the crosswalks on campus.”There are plans to resurface and repaint crosswalks,” Robertson said. “We’d like to see LED lights installed on major crosswalks, where there are no stop signs, to give additional visibility.”Robertson said he wants to find a solution specifically for the crosswalk near the Union.”I sat out there the other day, and you can see cars stopping to let people walk,” he said. “Cars aren’t supposed to be doing that — it creates some confusion.”If a person got hit by a car while on that crosswalk, Robertson said the pedestrian would be at fault because they are supposed to yield.Crosswalk renovation costs are anywhere between $1,200 and $13,000, Robertson said.The cost gap is because of the differences in the types of available upgrades — sensors, solar panels, lighting, resurfacing and repainting.Brandon Boyd, SG director of transportation, said the renovations of crosswalks are still in the research phase.”Because of the recent problems with crosswalks, we’re pushing to have warning devices implemented on dangerous crosswalks — basically where Easy Streets aren’t,” Boyd said.Boulware said people should be more aware of their surroundings, but in reality probably won’t.”People aren’t going to stop texting or get off their iPods to cross the street,” he said. “If you pay attention to the sign, and you’re not paying attention to the crosswalk. It’s a conundrum.”Louisiana Revised Statute 32:212 says drivers must yield the right of way to a pedestrian on a crosswalk when the pedestrian is halfway on the side of the road where a vehicle is approaching. The same statute also says no pedestrian will suddenly leave a curb to walk or run into the path of a vehicle when it is near impossible for the driver to yield.Rabalais said the purpose of the law is to make sure pedestrians are safe.”Whether you’re in the right or not, if you get hit by a car, you’re in trouble, and you’re going to lose,” Rabalais said. “It’s all about being vigilant. Make sure that before you cross, it’s safe to do so even if you have the right of way.”Tina Davis, kinesiology sophomore, said she tries to stop at crosswalks for pedestrians when she’s driving.”I know how it feels to be a student trying to cross Highland, and no one wants to stop for you,” she said. “When I’m walking, I know how it is to be a driver, so I try to speed up when I’m walking.”Lila Balamane, criminology senior, said cars should drive slower.”But if pedestrians can see if a car is already close, they can just wait,” she said. “It just takes a second. Some people just walk in front because they know they have the right of way, and that’s just frustrating.”—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected]