[Vision2020] Moscow Sidewalk/Crosswalk Bicycle/Pedestrian Accidents & Code

Fri Feb 19 11:20:11 PST 2010

Ted,

Just mow their asses over when they step out of their car. Call is carma. J/k :P

Your Friend,

Donovan Arnold

--- On Fri, 2/19/10, Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com>
Subject: [Vision2020] Moscow Sidewalk/Crosswalk Bicycle/Pedestrian Accidents & Code
To: "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>
Cc: "Moscow Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Date: Friday, February 19, 2010, 7:07 PM

I don't know what further charges could be made against the driver of the car who struck these pedestrians in the crosswalk.  But those operating cars and trucks are in effect in control of what can be described as a weapon that can easily kill... The casual often distracted or careless attitude of many drivers as they assume control over the safety and lives of others on highways, streets, sidewalks and crosswalks, is alarming.  The death toll on the highways justifies the alarm.  And given cars and trucks cross sidewalks at "drive-ins," sidewalks are not as safe as some might assume...

As is obvious, the close proximity of those using human powered transportation (which includes those walking) with cars and trucks in operation on streets and highways, sidewalks and crosswalks, is a dangerous situation, regardless of what laws are in place.  But current laws covering these situations appears seriously flawed.  

The Boise City Council, and the Idaho legislature (read info on this here: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2010-February/068600.html ), recently addressed this problem focusing on changes to bicycle related code, inspired in part by the recent deaths of several bicyclists in Idaho.  But I think the law should be crafted broadly to cover what might be termed, "human powered transportation," pedestrians, bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, runners, and so forth. 

1)  All persons using human powered transportation on sidewalks (with drive-ins for vehicles) and crosswalks, and of course bicycles on streets and highways sharing the road with cars and trucks, should be required to carry artificial light (viewable front, back and sides) between sunset and sunrise.  The current Idaho code only indicates bicycles and motor vehicles should carry artificial light, as far as I have determined.  But runners, skateboarders, rollerbladers, etc. can sometimes be moving faster than bicycles, while their movement might be more sudden and erratic; and are subject to just as much risk from a collision with a car or truck in crosswalks or on sidewalks with drive-ins..  Why are they not required to carry artificial light at night?  I don't perceive any good reason why they should not be required... If the pedestrians in the recent car/pedestrian accident were carrying light (the accident was at night, it appears, "2104
 hours"), the accident might have been avoided.

2)  Given the advantages cars and trucks have in speed (even in 25 mph zones cars are often moving much faster than most all using human powered transportation), mass and lighting capability, over those using human powered transportation, and the odds of serous injuries to those hit while using human powered transportation, it seems reasonable to craft the law to assign extra responsibility to drivers of motor vehicles to take extra "due care" that a crosswalk or sidewalk is not occupied, or in a second or two about to be occupied, by a person using human powered transportation.  

I am not saying that the law should always blame the driver of a motor vehicle if they hit someone using human powered transportation in a crosswalk or sidewalk; but cars and trucks have lighting capability that should always at night be able to illuminate a sidewalk or crosswalk to allow seeing someone.  And if the visibility of the crosswalk or sidewalk is so poor that it is difficult to determine whether these areas are in use, the motor vehicle driver should assume extra caution when crossing a crosswalk or sidewalk.  Even during daylight, if a driver of a car or truck cannot be sure, due to the view of the whole crosswalk being blocked, for example, by a large truck in an adjacent lane, that a crosswalk or sidewalk is not occupied, the driver should slow or stop till they can be sure the crosswalk is not occupied.

The speed of motor vehicles often makes avoiding an impending collision much more difficult for those using human powered transportation, thus the increased responsibility that should be aimed at drivers of cars and trucks to take extra "due care" they are not endangering the public.

As to how the code should be written to address these issues, the legal eagles have the expertise...
------------------------------------------
Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett

On 2/16/10, Art Deco <deco at moscow.com> wrote: 

I hope that more serious charges than inattentive driving are brought and vigorously pursued.  

How many more of these incidents are going to occur before the MPD and the city attorney decide that traffic law enforcement needs a lot more attention and vigor?

Wayne A. Fox
1009 Karen Lane
PO Box 9421
Moscow, ID  83843

waf at moscow.com
208 882-7975

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Stephanie Kalasz 
To: v2020 
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 9:17 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] MPD Press Release

MOSCOW POLICE DEPARTMENT
118 East 4th Street
Moscow, Idaho 83843
Tel: 208-882-COPS    Fax: 208-882-4020

PRESS RELEASE

February 15, 2010

On Sunday, February 14, 2010, at 2104 hours, Moscow Police, Fire and Volunteer Ambulance Service were dispatched to a traffic accident with injuries at the intersection of Sixth and Asbury Streets. Whitcom dispatch advised three pedestrians were struck by a vehicle at this location.   

Officers observed two women on the north sidewalk in a prone position being attended to by two males upon their arrival.  These women were identified as Rachel Price (W/F 19 years old of Moscow) and Ericka Brown W/F 18 year old of Moscow).  Rachel Price complained of head and elbow injuries.  Ericka Brown complained of lower back and hip injuries.  The male attending to Brown, Ryan Stewart (W/M 18 year old of Pullman) stated he had also been struck but did not require medical attention at this time.

Officers determined a Silver 1993 Toyota Camry driven by Travis Hartshorn (W/M 20 years old of Moscow) was driving east on 6th Street.  Hartshorn attempted to turn north (left) on Asbury when he struck the three pedestrians who were walking west in the marked crosswalk along the north side of 6th Street at Asbury.  Brown and Price were stuck by the front of the Toyota as it was turning. Both Brown and Price come into contact with the hood and windshield of the Toyota before being ejected off onto the roadway.  Stewart stated his left leg was clipped by the left front of the Toyota at the same time it struck the two women. 

Rachel Price and Ericka Brown were transported to Gritman Medical Center by Moscow Volunteer Ambulance.  Travis Hartshorn was cited and released for inattentive driving and failure to provide current proof of liability insurance.

Please contact A.C. Duke at 208-310-9254 for additional information.

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