Roads

The hazards of driving: Michael Phelps and you

by Stephen Miller   •   August 18, 2009 1:04 pm

While the Baltimore car crash involving Michael Phelps got all the press, the everyday occurrence of death and injury on our roads hit home for many of our region's families last week, as well.

An unidentified man in his 50's or 60's was struck in a crosswalk and killed at the scene by a hit-and-run driver at Stanton Road and Suitland Parkway, SE about 2:35 a.m. Friday. The vehicle fled westbound on Suitland Parkway, according to police. (Post)

Also in Southeast, the survivor of an August 5 crash on Pennsylvania Avenue spoke to Fox 5 to tell her story (video embedded to the right). "I felt like I just died right then and there," Crystal Walker told reporter Roby Chavez. Although Walker is glad to be alive, the crash has had a serious impact on her life and the lives of her five children. "I need to be there for my kids," she said through tears. "I was supposed to start a job this week and now I have to start all over again from scratch." Walker's friend was also going to speak with the reporter but was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital with severe burns and a broken leg.

A seventh-grader at Rocky Hill Middle School in Clarksburg was airlifted to Children's National Medical Center in Washington with life-threatening injuries on Wednesday after the vehicle in which he was a passenger was struck on Ridge Road. (Gazette)

Also in Montgomery County, a man was struck and killed while attempting to cross Colesville Road near Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring. The driver stayed on the scene. Colesville Road is up to nine lanes wide at that location and includes some signage instructing pedestrians to use the nearest signalized crosswalk, located at the intersection with University Boulevard—hardly a safe route to school. (Gazette)

A case of driver-on-driver traffic justice in Fairfax County? Ashley McIntosh was a 33 year-old teacher's assistant driving across Route 1 on a green light in February 2008 when she was struck and killed by then-Officer Amanda R. Perry, who was speeding through the intersection without sirens. New evidence has come to light about Perry's actions, leading a judge to rule that Perry can be found liable for simple negligence at an upcoming civil trial. (Post)

Secretary LaHood's announcement that he will host a meeting on September 30 to discuss distracted driving provided an opportunity for the Post to report some terrifying facts and stories about how dangerous and commonplace distracted drivers really are. Eight in 10 drivers talk on their phones while behind the wheel, and cellphone users are up to four times more likely to be in a crash, resulting in 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths in 2003 alone. The Post did some data collection of its own by spending 30 minutes on a recent afternoon at the intersection of 16th and K streets NW, where it counted 35 cell-phone violators, or one every 51 seconds. Even when states have cell phone laws, they are often toothless. A Fairfax County detective tells the Post that he doesn't want to say that Virginia's cell phone law is "totally useless," but goes on to explain that the law is "not much of a deterrent."

These sad and scary stories serve as a reminder that all road users must remain vigilant and careful, both for their own safety and that of others.

Stephen Miller lived in the District from 2008 to 2011 and is now a student at Pratt Institute's city and regional planning masters program.