Comments about ‘Are Salt Lake pedestrians safe?’

Jay walking and wearing dark clothes at night are significant contributing factors in addition to road conditions, foliage that obscures vision and driver inattention. A multi-faceted approach is needed to reduce motor-pedestrian accidents.

I live in downtown SLC and often walk to City Creek, ESA, Gateway, etc... I've almost been hit several times in crosswalks while I had a walk signal. The majority of the intersections downtown will give you the go ahead to walk, but then have a green light/arrow for a car to turn as well. Many of those drivers just see the green and don't pay attention to the crosswalk and turn into people. I'm not fully blaming drivers as I have seen plenty of pedestrians cross when they don't have a walk signal or think they can make it across with only 5 seconds left.

I think the improved signals could only help. As a downtown pedestrian I have had several close calls and have actually been brushed by a car. My daughter and dog were hit together in a cross walk a few years ago and about the same time a neighbor was hit in a crosswalk while crossing with a group of her friends - all in the middle of the day. I was 10 feet from a woman who was hit by a taxi in DC - the sound of the crash and the sight of her sliding off the hood of the car still haunt me. I was the first to reach her - she had obviously broken legs and severe head injuries - I'm sure she didn't survive. I believe drivers are looking principally at the traffic signals and other cars and don't see pedestrians. Sometimes drivers will cut it too close when making a left turn and find themselves in a tight spot, choosing to drive into the crosswalk rather than risk being hit by oncoming traffic. Drivers and pedestrians just need to be more careful and I think these awful events could be significantly reduced.