Most people in Danbury and other towns and cities around the U.S. take a vehicle to their daily commutes. Whether it’s going to school or work, we use cars or buses to get around. Occasionally you’ll see people walking to get somewhere, here in Danbury it’s a bit more common. However, with the freezing weather conditions or hot summers, most people would rather be inside or commute in a car with heated seats or AC on. According to a student survey at ACE, most students said that the weather would affect them walking outside anywhere.
Many parents here in the U.S. would not let their kids go out to the streets on their own, even knowing some of the basic street rules like looking both ways when crossing, being visible and always walking on the sidewalk. Parents say it’s dangerous to walk outside when anything could happen, but what if that’s their only transportation choice? Or what if their going is not that far from their home? For Diana Malla, a 37-year-old mother, that was the case. On Saturday, February 22nd she was heading over to her second job when she was tragically struck by a vehicle on Newtown and Eagle roads in Danbury. This is just one of the many cases in the U.S. of pedestrians being injured or killed. Nowadays, we live in a car-dependent world where cars are the only means of transportation. Everyone needs to know pedestrian safety tips when walking on the street or in places with many cars, but it’s not just the pedestrians that need to be careful, it’s people driving as well.
Pedestrians and drivers should follow the following tips for staying safe.
Walking Safety Tips
- Look both ways before crossing, even if there is a crosswalk
- Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals
- Walk on sidewalks whenever possible
- If there is no sidewalk, walk as far from traffic as possible
- Avoid using headphones or earbuds (to be aware of your surroundings)
- Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially at night
- Use crosswalks whenever possible
Driving Safety Tips
- Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times
- Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones, and in neighborhoods where children are present
- Observe for pedestrians at night
- Avoid distractions like cell phones and focus on the road
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
- Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see
- Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals
When answering the question: Do you ever feel unsafe when walking somewhere in Danbury? Phoebe Lewis, a student at ACE states, “Sometimes. I feel like I get weird looks a lot and also there’s a good handful of reckless drivers.”
Considering whether it’s better to drive or walk to places, Emily Reinoso explained, “It’s faster for me personally when I lived closer to the middle of town I walked to everywhere. Now I live in the middle of nowhere and I need to drive everywhere or else it takes like an hour.”
Most respondents to the survey said they did not feel confident walking to work or school.
Cierra Medina, a student at ACE said “Not that confident since I don’t live close to school and not many sidewalks.”
In Danbury, there are sidewalks in most neighborhoods but some end out of nowhere making it dangerous for pedestrians trying to go somewhere. The Danbury CT GOV website states “Mayor Roberto Alves announced a 50% increase in traffic enforcement in the City of Danbury from 2023 to 2024 and an 8% decrease in traffic accidents…said Mayor Alves. ‘A 50% increase in traffic enforcement is a huge step towards stopping the violations on our streets and making our communities safer. As a driver and a father, I recognize that this is a major improvement, but still not enough. We’re going to continue strengthening our police department, ramping up our traffic enforcement, and ensuring anyone who drives in our City has the safety of our roads and residents in mind.”
