The Rotunda

Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Chelsea Place This pedestrian crosswalk sign is located in front of the Landings on Main Street

As reported in Sept. 3 issue of The Rotunda, one of the biggest concerns for campus police this semester is pedestrian safety. Chief of Police Bob Beach is spearheading several new measures in cooperation with the Town of Farmville. However, he also needs student cooperation to make sure that no one is hurt or killed by not following the law.

"Thankfully, we have not had any pedestrian accidents involving students yet," said Beach. There are two issues that concern Beach the most: "A lack of understanding by pedestrians and vehicle operators," and simple negligence of the law. According to the Code of Virginia, Code 1950, Section 46.2-923, "…pedestrians shall not carelessly or maliciously interfere with the orderly passage of vehicles. They shall cross, wherever possible, only at intersections or marked crosswalks. Where intersections contain no marked crosswalks, pedestrians shall not be guilty of negligence as a matter of law…" The pedestrian must understand that vehicles are supposed to stop when people are in the crosswalk, but many confuse that notion, Beach said. "You cannot run out into the crosswalk and expect them [the vehicle operators] to stop."

Beach is currently working with Farmville's Public Works Department to put some sort of signage with reminders about pedestrians along Main Street. That area contains one of the most heavily-traveled crosswalks, which helps students from the Landings get to campus. However, putting up more signs is not Beach's prime solution to his concerns. "Signs are initially good," Beach said, "and most people and pedestrians intend to do the right thing and then get caught up in the routine of life," and that's when accidents can happen.

In addition, Beach and campus police also recently received some good news from the Board of Visitors meeting that took place on Friday, Sept. 12, where the Capital Plan was approved. The significance of the Capital Plan to Beach and the police is that it contains "a whole section devoted to pedestrian traffic." The plan allows the police department to purchase new technology specifically to help keep pedestrians safe, including a system of lights that will be buried in the roadway. These lights flash when a car is approaching a crosswalk to catch the attention of the vehicle operators and prevent any accidents. However, Beach clearly stated that the system is expensive and will "take some time [to be purchased], not one or two semesters."

Continued...

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