Pedestrian Issues to Be Addressed By Campus Police
Several new measures are being implemented this semester
Laura Beth Stricker
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: News
Though purchasing new technology will take some time, Beach and his fellow officers have been working hard in the last few weeks to produce educational materials for both Longwood students and Farmville citizens. Sgt. Delbridge Dove has been designing brochures and fliers reminding students about crosswalks and pedestrian safety. In addition, Beach and Dove have been in contact with the University to set up several forums to educate people about crosswalks and how important they are for safety. Beach is also working on several articles for The Farmville Herald to educate the public about pedestrian safety.
Beach said, "You are not going to win against an automobile," so it is pedestrians' responsibility to use sidewalks and crosswalks to ensure their safety while crossing Farmville's streets. Beach has also noticed that jaywalking is becoming a major problem and said that "enforcement action" may be taken at certain intersections if it continues. Although jaywalking is not illegal is Virginia, it is one of Beach's main concerns, because pedestrians not using sidewalks and crosswalks put both their lives and the lives of the people in vehicles at risk.
What Beach fears more than anything with pedestrian safety is when students or citizens mix alcohol with the situation. "I fear that students will go and drink and not pay attention [to the road] or go get in a car and drive drunk," which endangers both the driver and those pedestrians trying to get where they're going. Longwood received a grant for alcohol enforcement this year, and special attention will be devoted to educating everyone about its importance to pedestrian safety.
Beach also confirmed that Longwood is "moving toward a foot-traffic community" and that "vehicles are farther away [from students]." This issue will also receive special attention this year, with Beach and the department looking into providing shuttle services to cars within campus.
Above all, Beach wants to advocate to students that, "If you don't take the time [to be safe], there's not a lot we can do." He urges everyone on campus to slow down and think when crossing the street. The safest way is to use sidewalks and crosswalks. Longwood is lucky that no students have been hurt or killed in pedestrian accidents, but if students don't advocate for their own safety and use common sense, the consequences can be life changing or deadly.
Beach said, "You are not going to win against an automobile," so it is pedestrians' responsibility to use sidewalks and crosswalks to ensure their safety while crossing Farmville's streets. Beach has also noticed that jaywalking is becoming a major problem and said that "enforcement action" may be taken at certain intersections if it continues. Although jaywalking is not illegal is Virginia, it is one of Beach's main concerns, because pedestrians not using sidewalks and crosswalks put both their lives and the lives of the people in vehicles at risk.
What Beach fears more than anything with pedestrian safety is when students or citizens mix alcohol with the situation. "I fear that students will go and drink and not pay attention [to the road] or go get in a car and drive drunk," which endangers both the driver and those pedestrians trying to get where they're going. Longwood received a grant for alcohol enforcement this year, and special attention will be devoted to educating everyone about its importance to pedestrian safety.
Beach also confirmed that Longwood is "moving toward a foot-traffic community" and that "vehicles are farther away [from students]." This issue will also receive special attention this year, with Beach and the department looking into providing shuttle services to cars within campus.
Above all, Beach wants to advocate to students that, "If you don't take the time [to be safe], there's not a lot we can do." He urges everyone on campus to slow down and think when crossing the street. The safest way is to use sidewalks and crosswalks. Longwood is lucky that no students have been hurt or killed in pedestrian accidents, but if students don't advocate for their own safety and use common sense, the consequences can be life changing or deadly.
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