Recently, two letters complained about the village’s efforts to make streets safer for us all. I don’t own a car! Therefore, I walk miles around our streets every day. Here’s a snapshot of what I have observed:
May 14: I was walking my grandson to Pilgrim preschool. He pushed the pedestrian button to let us cross Lake Street. I looked to the left and that car stopped to let us cross. I was halfway into the intersection when two cars heading west ignored both the flashing lights with me and my grandson already in the crosswalk. Thank God I was paying attention.
May 15: The corner of Home and Randolph is a four-way stop. In a 12-hour period there were two accidents at that intersection. Thank goodness no one was hurt.
About two weeks ago: Near the corner of Adams and Home, there was a crash. I did not see it, but I heard it. I believe the driver blew through the four-way stop. She crashed into a parked car. She admitted she was on the phone. It also appeared that she totaled both cars. Again, thank goodness no one was hurt. This is also a school bus stop, which was due to stop a few minutes after this happened.
Many people seem to think that a stop sign now means roll on through. I try to make sure cars are going to stop before I try to cross the street. I am tired of people waving at me as they proceed to cruise through the intersection without stopping.
I could go on, but I think you get my point: people are increasingly not following the laws we do have, they are speeding too fast down streets, especially residential streets, and they are distracted!
I am not sorry about some of the measures the village is taking to slow drivers down as they try to speed through the business and residential areas. I am not sorry that, as one of the recent letters states, you find “how ugly many of these measures are. The hideous rows and rows of white and yellow sticks and the garish paint on the streets are making our beautiful streets resemble a tacky go-cart park.”
It is a mistake to think our beautiful streets are safe. They are just accidents waiting to happen, and I pray they don’t seriously injure anyone.
I am grateful and appreciate all the efforts the village is making to keep us safe. And if you own a car, please take more care.
Elizabeth O’Brien is a resident of Oak Park