Earlier this month, Providence City Councilman Michael Correia, Ward 6, was the victim of a hit-and-run on Atwells Avenue. Luckily, Correia sustained only minor injuries. The incident was particularly notable because it occurred roughly a year after Councilman Terrence Hassett, Ward 12, was seriously hurt in a hit-and-run on the same street.
Events like these remind us that traffic enforcement remains an ongoing struggle for city and campus police. Despite commendable University action to improve pedestrian safety after a drunk driver killed Avi Schaefer '13, two students were seriously hurt in a hit-and-run last spring. The scourge of reckless driving seems intractable.
We are therefore pleased to see the Department of Public Safety "being more proactive with traffic controls," in the words of Mark Porter, chief of police and director of public safety. We appreciate the efforts of the Providence Police Department, which quickly nabbed the perpetrator of the spring hit-and-run, but we sometimes wonder about the city's traffic priorities.
Parking violations are pursued with extreme vigilance, as anyone who gets back to their car on Waterman Street 10 minutes after the meter expires can attest. Yet we routinely witness cars disregard stop signs at the intersection of Hope and Power streets, just a block away from a police station. We hope that DPS's heightened attention to traffic violations reduces reckless driving on College Hill.
There are other measures that could improve pedestrian safety beyond more robust enforcement of traffic laws. Last year, the editorial page board noted that the intersection of Charlesfield and Brook streets was in need of a stop sign — that remains the case today. There are more places on the periphery of campus where traffic is heavier that are just as dangerous.
We also urge the General Assembly to completely ban the use of cell phones while driving. The National Safety Council estimates cell phones are a factor in over 25 percent of car accidents. Texting behind the wheel is thankfully outlawed in Rhode Island, but studies repeatedly demonstrate the danger of talking on the phone while driving.
We would be remiss, however, to limit our discussion of pedestrian safety to reckless motorists. Bicycles travelling at high speed also pose a threat to pedestrians. While our experience tells us the vast majority of Brown students are responsible bikers, we sometimes see bikes cruising down streets at unsafe speeds and with no regard for stop signs. As darkness falls ever earlier, bikers must make sure their bikes have lights or at least reflective surfaces to improve visibility.
Of course, pedestrians must also do their part to show caution and consideration for drivers by avoiding jaywalking. It may not be our place to remind you to look both ways before crossing the street, but look both ways before you cross the street.
Pedestrian safety is a crucial issue, but it is all too easy for us to forget about it until tragedy strikes. The University has made significant progress in making Brown safer for walkers. We hope the new emphasis DPS is placing on traffic enforcement will continue to help drivers, bikers and pedestrians safely coexist on College Hill.
Editorials are written by The Herald's editorial page board. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
