Poll: Pedestrian Safety Concerns in Chester?
Three pedestrians struck on Main Street in Chester in as many months, and Patch wants your suggestions on what should be done.
Over the past three months, three pedestrians have been seriously injured in accidents on Main Street in Chester Borough, two within the confines of a cross walk and we here at Mendham-Chester Patch want to know what you think should be done about it.
This is not to say this problem is a unique one. Over in Mendham a pair of people were struck by a vehicle in a cross walk while they were exiting the Kings and an elderly woman was struck by a Mendham Councilman in the same shopping center lot as well.
In downtown Chester, a woman was airlifted from Grove Street Park to Morristown Medical Center with serious injuries after being struck by a car in front of The Church of St. Lawrence The Martyr on Nov. 26. At the time, Main Street was closed for about 90 minutes while authorities investigated the accident.
On Dec. 22, the Saturday before Christmas, a 56-year-old Chester man was struck by a vehicle being operated by Chester Borough resident Debralee Madsen. The 53-year-old Madsen struck Ernest Brito Jr. as he was crossing the Main Street/ Perry Street crosswalk, police said.
According to police, traffic on Main Street had come to a complete stop to allow Brito to cross and Madsen was making a left hand turn from Perry Street onto Main Street when she collided with Brito.
On Jan. 26 53-year-old Lois Hodge-Villa of Parsippany was struck by 18-year-old Mendham resident Kathryn Donato while traversing a cross walk on Main Street. According to Chester Borough Sgt. Dave Jara the latter two accidents were similar in nature.
“They were pretty much identical,” Jara said. “Vehicles on Main Street did what
they were suppose to do and stopped. It's the vehicles coming from the
side streets that caused the accidents.”
Tell us: what are your thoughts on pedestrian safety on Main Street. Take our poll and sound off in the comments below.
Lou Case
5:29 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Main Street @ Perry and Main Street @ warren Street, vehicles are parked too close to the intersections blocking the sight distance for both vehicles and pedestrians.
Thomas Grego
1:00 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
It does not help either that their are no lines to designate parking spaces. For those who remember taking drivers education classes, NJSA 39:4-138 requires that vehicles not be parked any closer than 25ft from a cross walk, 10 ft from a fire hydrant, 50 ft from a stop sign, and 20 feet of driveway entrance to fire station or 75
feet on opposite side of street from a fire station. None of these stand-off distances are marked anywhere on main street thus people park anywhere they feel like parking. Prior to the renovation of main street that redid all the sidewalks and crosswalks, those "NO PARKING" lines were in existance and very few incidents occured.
M_J
8:32 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
1. The signage is not very effective. A minimal step to increase visibility would be to post the crosswalk signs so that they are visible on both sides of the street. Often parked cars block the sign on the right side but the back of the sign is visible on the left. Each sign should be viewable from either side.
2. Isn't there a law that restricts parking within 25 feet of a crosswalk? 39:4-138
NEW
9:23 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Around the time of the November 26 accident, the sun glare was horrible. That may/may not have been a root cause, but I've personally driven in glare where I couldn't see something until I was right upon it.
Gene Osso
11:53 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
signage doesnt work - I saw a driver plow over a "peds xing" sign that was big, orange and in the middle of the street and they just drove off like nothing happened.
Police presence always hightens awareness. Ticket people who do not stop for pedestrians in the xwalk - i see too many people drive right on by becuase I think they think it's optional to stop.
Elinor Lancour
12:07 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
I take responsibility for my own safety and always look around to make sure I can cross safely
M_J
12:31 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
>'signage doesnt work - I saw a driver plow over a "peds xing" sign that was big, orange and in the middle of the street and they just drove off like nothing happened.'
in that case an optometrist may be required.
If we create a crosswalk it tells the pedestrian this is a safe place to walk, and don't have ample signage to tell the driver that it's a crosswalk, then it's more unsafe than if the person was just walking across the street at any other point.
There are plenty of options, flashing lights etc... and after a serious accident, we will probably get them.
Mark r
3:27 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Those signs in the middle of the street that Kevin is talking about are useless. All they do is get knocked over, damaged , and even stolen. Flashing lights are the way to go. And for the people who voted to post cops at crosswalks and intersections. Good luck. Tell that useless mayor to hire more officers. But he won't bc he hates his own PD and is an arrogant little man.
Kevin
12:37 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
We have to put the pedestrian signs back in the middle of the road to assist drivers and pedestrians. There is not doubt that the signs will mitigate some of the risk. It would be helpful to make sure that cell phone, texting, etc... are away when we are behind the wheel.
grandma
12:52 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
They need to do something about the jaywalkers. These visitors come to chester and the quant main street and think they are in Mayberry!!! They cross between parked cars and walk out wherever they want in order to go to the shops. Also, the parking is too close to the side street corners making it almost impossible to pull out of these streets safely.
ChesterFamily5
6:24 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
For your information, Ms. Spino, the man hit in the December 22nd accident was NOT JAYWALKING!!! He was not a "visitor." He was a local resident, Christmas shopping in his own hometown. He was crossing the street, IN THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK! He was not hit by a person ("when she collided with Brito") as incorrectly worded in the article. No, he was hit by a large SUV!!!! The accident did not involve jaywalking, or parked cars. Imagine, Ms. Spino, what it was like for him to be hit by an SUV ... while doing nothing more than walking across the street ... where he was supposed to be walking. The problem is not jaywalking, nor parked cars. The problem is drivers who hit people with their cars, or in this case, their SUV. Maybe you'll see that more clearly now.
M_J
3:16 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
|| "We have to put the pedestrian signs back in the middle of the road to assist drivers and pedestrians."
I'm all for getting better signage up before there's another accident. But the problem is who is the "we". Who is in charge of the signs on main street? It's a county road, does the initial request need to come from the borough, the police or the county? is there a process? It's good to have this venue to discuss the problem, but it's better to just get it done.
Any local government folks watching this discussion and do you have any thoughts?
Kevin
3:37 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Mark, the signs are not useless. They have proven to be a deterrent to accidents. They have been gone for how long now and how many people have been struck?
Proof is in the numbers....
Mark r
4:37 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
What #'s and yes they are useless, the signs in all 3 instances would have done nothing. As it was stated in the article , all the cars on Main Street did the right thing. You can't control the people who are coming from the side street. It's obvious as they were turning they weren't even looking in the direction they were turning and when they did realize it was to late. So tell me, how are those signs going to fix the issue when it wasn't part of the issue to begin with. So when these things get knocked over and dragged you want the cops to drag them back and risk getting hit themselves. Again, they would have not prevented the 3 accidents. Invest in the led flashing signs it would get more attention than an obstacle in the road.
M_J
4:10 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
The accidents aren't going to just stop, something will eventually need to be done, it's just a matter of how many accidents will occur in the meanwhile. After a little searching I found plenty of information but the answers don't seem to be conclusive,although changes can reduce accidents.
Here's one article that discusses a study undertaken by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the Federal Highway Administration:
http://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/newsletter/03-2/crosswalk.php
And one of the many items listed to help deter accidents is: "Supplement crossing with pedestrian warning signs. Warning signs, flashers, and other traffic control devices can be used at unusually hazardous locations or in places where pedestrian crossing activity is not readily apparent."
M_J
5:41 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
"Invest in the led flashing signs it would get more attention than an obstacle in the road.
That would be good, be since it would take an amendment to the constitution to get that done, I would like to see something sooner than later.
As I mentioned earlier, there are locations along Main Street were the existing signs are blocked by obstacles, parked cars, and the back of the sign on the opposing sign is more visible. And, if cars are turning onto Main St, it's likely that they see the opposite side before they see the side they are turning onto.
It may not be the best solution and hopefully not the last. But it would be relatively inexpensive and somebody with the signs and a socket wrench can accomplish this. Put another sign back to back on the opposing side so that 2 signs are visible at each crosswalk.
like the nike ad.... just do it.