Teen Hit by Vehicle While Crossing Downtown Street
16-year-old boy taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries.
Here's information provided by the Livermore Police Department:
On Friday 2/10/12, at about 8:37 p.m., a 16-year-old male was crossing S. Livermore Avenue in the marked crosswalk located between First St. and Railroad Ave. One motorist traveling northbound on S. Livermore stopped for the pedestrian who was crossing from east to west. The driver of a Honda traveling southbound on S. Livermore Ave. failed to see the pedestrian in the crosswalk and struck the pedestrian with the front of the Honda. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this collision. The collision is still under investigation. S. Livermore Avenue was closed for approximately three hours during the investigation.
This was the sixth injury collision involving vehicles striking pedestrians since January first of 2012. Pedestrian involved injury collisions have been on the rise in Livermore for the last several years. In 2009 there were 10 pedestrians injured in roadway collisions. That number rose to 17 in 2010 and 18 in 2011. There have been no fatal pedestrian involved collisions in Livermore since 7/13/08 when a pedestrian was struck and killed as he ran across East Ave. near Jensen St.
Drivers and pedestrians have equal responsibilities in the efforts to reduce pedestrian involved collisions. Drivers should take extra caution when approaching crosswalks and intersections. Look for pedestrians near the crosswalk and prepare to yield when they enter the crosswalk. When driving in a residential area, particularly during the afternoon hours, or near a school zone, scan ahead for pedestrian traffic, especially for children, who may suddenly run out into the roadway. Extra caution should apply in the evening hours. Pedestrians should always use designated crosswalks when crossing a busy roadway. Assume that the driver can’t see you until you have made eye contact. Once in the crosswalk continue to scan for traffic in each lane of traffic. When in doubt, yield to vehicle traffic. These are basic rules of the road; however pedestrian accidents continue to occur when drivers and/or pedestrians ignore these rules.
The Livermore Police Department has three crosswalk enforcement operations planned during the next two months. During these enforcement efforts, LPD officers will be targeting specific crosswalks in town and will be citing drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians crossing the roadway within those marked crosswalks.
The Livermore Police Department Traffic Unit’s primary goal is to reduce traffic collisions, particularly those involving pedestrians, as those often result in serious injury. If you have questions regarding pedestrian safety, or general traffic issues, you can contact the Livermore Police Department Traffic Unit at 925-371-4850.
Speedie B
7:16 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Thank goodness he wasn't hurt badly. It seems like more people are driving like it's a raceway out there and they have to be 'in front' -- there is no 'front' people! And please stop behind the school buses when the flashing red lights are on and the stop sign is deployed. I've seen may cars just go around the bus and disregard the sign. Children getting off could run in front of the bus to cross the street. Slow down and drive more defensively -- if you are in a hurry, you shouldn't be driving that way too.
Don Meeker
7:43 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
It is difficult to see pedestrians at night crossing the street. Several times I have seen a pedestrian at night only has a silhouette. I never assume a car can see me because of this. Perhaps it can be suggested that pedestrians can be cited for not wearing light colered clothing at night. With tongue in cheek I suggest that pedestrians carry a reflective device or light of some sort at night, flag, light, vest etc.
Don Meeker
Kristofer Noceda
9:04 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Great suggestion, Don re: reflective devices or light. I remember a few weeks ago I was driving at night and could barely make out a pedestrian crossing the street. I slowed down and once the woman noticed me she stopped, beamed a small flashlight in front of her toward the concrete to let me know she was going to cross the street. Definitely helped.
Martin
8:32 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
It is difficult to see pedestrians at night in some areas. With this incident, I'd question the fact there was another car already stopped in the middle of the street regardless of being at a marked crosswalk. Why didn't the driver take a hint that if traffic is stopped maybe something is going on that we should be aware of? Seems like basic defensive driving to me.
I second the comment by speedie B corncerning school buses. I've seen people blow right by school buses that have their safety equipment activated. From what I've noticed its been mostly the parents in to big a hurry to pick up their own kid at the charter school to take into consideration the safety of others.
Nancy Reeves
9:28 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
What ever happened to one of the oldest, first lessons ever taught? "Look both ways before crossing the street!" My experience has been more that the pedestrians are in la la land. They are clueless,they don't follow the rule of thumb,they assume that drivers will stop, and my gosh can they walk across any slower.
Martin
9:42 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
I'd have to say part of the problem is how California states "pedestrian has the right away." It instills a "I'll just cross, and everyone will have to stop because that's the law." Few other states give the right away to a pedestrian of at most a couple hundred pounds, and takes it from a moving vehicle that weights thousands.
Nancy, your right enough that it makes me think there's a large population out and about in general who are to envolved in their little personal bubble to pay attention to the bigger picture of whats going on around them. Thank god we have Ipods and smartphones and all the other distractions people find to keep them from operating safely in the public environment.
Joe B
9:50 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
My poor misguide people Don
Cite people for not wearing "light colored clothing". Insanity!!! Where does that end?
Joe
Not Don
10:13 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
This is supposed to be a pedestrian friendly downtown. This crosswalk is well marked in a well lit area of downtown. This pedestrian was not in la-la-land but was in fact exactly where he was supposed to be, IN the crosswalk. Why are we making law abiding citizens responsible for the acts of law-breaking drivers? I would guess that ALL states give rights to pedestrians IN THE CROSSWALK.
Martin
8:06 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Limited rights, but your Correct. My point was a percentage of people seem to walk right out into traffic rather it be a crosswalk, shopping center parking lot, etc. without really looking to see what drivers are doing or will do. I believe this is partially because they have the train of thought "they'll stop, they have to, that's the law." Which is all good, except a lot of people don't follow all the laws of the road.
Reading this article, and talking to a good friend of mine who was on scene and blocked the scene & directed traffic while his family called 9-1-1, I'd say it's mostly the drivers fault. They were most likely not paying close attention (a lot of drivers don't), most likely in a hurry and didn't pay attention to an already stopped car, as it may have been stopped for a good reason. in fact I'd take a guess they swerved to the next lane to go around the stopped car.. The pedestrian probably should/could have waited a sec to see what traffic in the next lane was going to do prior to stepping into it. Just because one car stops obviously doesn't mean they all will.
Nancy Reeves
11:17 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
If it was at the new crosswalk from the Bankhead parking lot crossing over to the large lot next to Uncle Ti's then it is NOT that well lit. Even with the crossing lights that come on when the button is pushed. It also states to use caution crossing,not all cars will stop. I'm not saying the driver was not at fault. I'm guessing they were either texting,talking on cell, or just plain not paying attention. I pray the young man will be okay.
Not Don
12:12 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012
I'm sure the at-fault driver will say the same things, but I'm curious that you are not also "guessing" that the driver was probably texting, talking on a cell or just plain not paying attention. Pedestrian presumed at fault, driver presumed innocent. Interesting perspective, completely unsupported by anything in the article, by the way.
Not Don
12:17 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012
As a side note - also not in the article, but I happened to walk past the scene just after the accident. The windshield of the car was nicely spiderwebbed and the pedestrian had been flung well past the crosswalk. I'm sure that will have no effect on those who think the pedestrian is the idiot here.
Corrina
12:40 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Lastnight I was driving downtown at around 7:40pm and it's very hard to see when it's dark. And the cross walks are not so lighted. And I stop at the stop sign. When I started to go this kid just walked out in front of me and his friend. But this kid was just being smart ass and thought it was funny. Thank god I didn't hit him. But yes some of the kids test the cars to see what happen so we need to be careful of the kids out on the weekend nights downtown.
Dell
2:52 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012
When I open the front door of our home to go someplace I feel like I am entering the “Twilight Zone.” Two years ago when we decided to enter our daughter in the local neighborhood preschool which is about two or three blocks from where we live I thought it would be nice to walk to the preschool. In the city of Livermore there is a strong emphasis on pedestrian safety. East Avenue has two lanes each going east and West divided by a landscaped barrier. To get to the preschool we have to cross East Avenue. Many times when we are crossing East Avenue we are putting our lives on the line. Drivers will not stop to let us cross the street. Sometimes a driver on the inner lane will stop to let us cross the street but the driver on the outer lane will not stop at all. Sometimes drivers will deliberately speed up while we are in the process of crossing East Avenue as a result I find myself while carrying my daughter running in the cross walk to avoid the oncoming car. The majority of the time when crossing the street I can tell that the oncoming cars have no intention of slowing down. In California there is “total anarchy” on the roads.
Big M
11:02 am on Monday, February 13, 2012
Wendell, it sounds like you are not using a cross walk and if you are, you are crossing when the red hand is up telling you to wait. There is a reason that we have that signal on street posts, to tell people to wait because traffic crossing the street is going to be crossing your direction of travel. Wait until you have the green and people will stop.
Dont assume they are going to stop just because you step out in front of them. Remember, they are 4000lbs traveling at 35 mph... you're 100-300 traveling at 3 or 4mph...
I was the guy who got hit by a car
3:29 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012
It was lorenzo
William Turner
11:15 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Forget the CA law and teach your kids: EVEN WITH A CROSSWALK, stop at the edge of the road and do not enter until you are certain that (1) both directions have seen you, acknowledged you, and are stopping, or (2) no car is close enough to reach the crosswalk while you're in it. Do this and you will never be hit.
BadDriver
10:06 pm on Sunday, February 12, 2012
How about teaching drivers not to overdrive their headlights? If you think downtown Livermore is too dark at night to be able to see crosswalks, please hand over your keys, you are a public menace either because you have no night vision or you simply drive too fast in a busy walking downtown.
Crosswalks are for everyone and anyone. Blind. Senior. Very senior. Children. Families. Distracted teens. Disabled. The point of the crosswalk is to provide a specific place where drivers are supposed to pay attention to anyone trying to cross the road. Why so much resistance to expecting drivers to take on that basic responsibility?
Dell
2:28 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
BIG M
The intersection I am crossing has no lights just a cross walk. What happen to the days when a pedestrian had the right of way when crossing the street?
Big M
3:19 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
You do have the right of way, but are you willing to risk your life so you can step out into the street and see if someone is going to stop? Wait a moment until traffic clears or walk further up the street to a light and cross there. Don't expect to jump out in the middle of traffic and have everyone come to screeching halt because you wanted to cross there and have the "right of way".
Please read William Turner's response 2 or 3 above yours... you'll learn a lot about how to cross the street in modern society.
You could also get a group of people together to petition the city to install the lights like they have downtown for the cross walks...or just complain more on the internet, someone is bound to notice. jus sayin
TooFast
10:34 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Last night I drove the intersection that Nancy thinks is too dark and Don thinks requires light clothing. There is a huge reflective yellow pedestrian crossing sign, with a second reflective yellow arrow sign right below it, pointing to the reflective white stripes on the well lit roadway. If this is dangerously dim to you, please stop driving!!
For those who advise waiting "until traffic clears" I suggest bringing a book to read if you intend to cross Fourth St. around 5:00, because you'll be waiting until about 6:00. As a driver I am perplexed why other drivers can't take responsibility for paying attention. Since it seems in fashion, I'll give my own guide:
Pedestrians: take a step into the crosswalk, make eye contact with traffic in your lane and leave enough room to retreat if some of the folks on this list are driving. Once one lane is clearly slowing keep going and do the same for the next lane.
Drivers: put down the phone and note that downtown is not the same as a freeway. Pedestrians DO have the right of way in a crosswalk, even if you are in a hurry.
Dell
5:22 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
Big M
Crossing a busy street like East Avenue is not a problem for me alone but when you are walking with a four year old there is a tendency to walk a little slower. There used to be a courtesy rule in Livermore whereby drivers stop for pedestrians trying to cross the street legally I guess that does not apply anymore.Everyone for themselves! My major gripe with the drivers in LIvermore is that if they see someone crossing the street they will not slow down at all. I have contacted the city about installing traffic lights and speed humps in my neighborhood to calm down the traffic. I have been told the city has to do an unlimited amount of studies before they do anything. The city of Livermore in conjunction with the Police department feel it is crucial to maintain safety in the streets during parades and wine festivals than during a regular day.