Editor,
This letter is in response to the Nov. 7 article, “Grant Aims to Change Behavior Behind the Wheel,” about the use of the grant money received from the state Office of Traffic Safety.
For all the reasons cited in the article, we cannot fail to take action in response to our town’s abysmal ranking as “the most dangerous of the state’s small cities for people on foot.” I support the actions being taken by Lt. Calvert and the traffic division in order to alter driver behavior that would hopefully result in zero fatalities.
To those actions, I suggest the traffic division consider adding similar measures that would change pedestrian behavior. Like so many other residents, I cannot tell you how many times I have had to slam on the brakes or swerve to miss hitting someone on foot who comes out of nowhere and darts across Coast Highway, sometimes with little children! Oftentimes there is a crosswalk or lighted intersection less than half a block away, but they would apparently prefer to take a risk than walk a few more feet to lawfully and cautiously cross this major highway. Jaywalking across Glenneyre Street is likewise a frequent occurrence as are pedestrians chatting or texting on their cell phones while crossing the street oblivious to surrounding traffic.
If we want to achieve zero fatalities, drivers, pedestrians and bike riders must all be part of the solution.
Marilyn Coll, Laguna Beach
Yes, dangerous walking over speed limit, colliding into each other and bursting in flames are truly a problem in Laguna, Not drivers…
Focus should obviously be on cars since they got the potential to kill and maime, not kids on scooters. Laguna should be for people first, cars second.