Across Ohio, the prevalence of unmanned crosswalks – those lacking traffic signals, crossing guards, or other active safety measures – is raising serious concerns about student safety. A student was recently hit in a crosswalk outside Lakota West High School.
While they might seem like a cost-effective solution for cash-strapped school districts, unmanned crosswalks can pose safety risks to Ohio students. In the case of the recent accident, the girl was conscious when taken to West Chester Hospital, but is suspected to have suffered serious injury.
Students struck by vehicles while crossing the street at their schools may suffer serious, or even fatal, injuries. In such situations, they and their families have legal options to pursue compensation for their resulting losses. To discuss your rights if you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, call our dedicated Cincinnati motor vehicle accident lawyers at Young, Reverman & Bolotin, 513-400-0000. We offer FREE initial consultations.
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Are Unmanned Crosswalks a Safe Option for Ohio Students?
Unmanned crosswalks, lacking traffic signals, crossing guards, or other active safety measures, rely heavily on driver and pedestrian vigilance. This combination, unfortunately, often falls short, especially when children are involved.
The recent pedestrian accident was the second in the past four months to occur outside a Lakota school. In May, a 15-year-old was hit by a car while crossing Bethany Road in an unmanned crosswalk. She did not survive her injuries. The crash was also the second to happen in the area of West Chester Road outside the high school. In 2018, a sophomore suffered broken and cracked bones due to getting struck by a vehicle while crossing in an unmanned crosswalk.
Student Vulnerabilities
Students, particularly younger ones, may lack the judgment and experience to accurately assess oncoming traffic speed and distance. They might be more impulsive, darting into the street without fully considering the dangers. Distractions like cell phones or conversations with friends can further impair their awareness. In a busy school zone, factors such as these may combine to create hazardous situations at unmanned crosswalks.
Driver Challenges
From the driver’s perspective, an unmarked or poorly marked crosswalk can be easily overlooked, especially during periods of heavy traffic or low visibility. Drivers may be less likely to anticipate pedestrians crossing in these locations, leading to delayed reactions and increased risk of accidents. Even well-meaning drivers can struggle to see smaller children, especially in poor weather conditions or at dusk and dawn, which may contribute to incidents that result in immediately obvious and overlooked injuries after a motor vehicle accident.
Occurring at about 6:45 a.m., it was dark, and the road unlighted, when the recent student-involved pedestrian accident happened. However, witnesses reported seeing the crosswalks flashing lights activated.
The Problem of Reliance on Perfect Behavior
The fundamental problem with relying solely on driver and pedestrian awareness is that it assume perfect behavior. In reality, drivers are often distracted, speeding, or simply inattentive. Such behaviors can be particularly concerning around schools, where traffic volume tends to increase during drop-off and pick-up times. The absence of a clear signal or crossing guard can create a chaotic and unpredictable environment, making it difficult for students to safely navigate the crosswalk, which may result in personal injury accidents.
The Dangers of Driver Inattention at Unmanned Crosswalks
Despite the texting and distracted driving laws in Ohio, driver inattention remains a leading cause of accidents. Unmanned crosswalks exacerbate this risk. When crosswalks lack clear signals or other active safety measures, drivers must be extra vigilant to spot pedestrians. However, a multitude of distractions can divert a driver’s attention, even for a split second, and may have devastating consequences. These distractions can include:
- Mobile Phone Use: Texting, talking on the phone, or even glancing at a notification can take a driver’s eyes and focus off the road
- Engaging with Passengers: Conversations, especially with children in the backseat, can be distracting
- Eating and Drinking: Handling food and beverages can take hands off the wheel and attention off the road
- Adjusting the Radio or GPS: Fiddling with in-car entertainment or navigation systems can divert attention
- Daydreaming or Fatigue: Even a momentary lapse in concentration can be enough to miss seeing a child crossing the street
At an unmanned crosswalk, where there are no signals to command a stop, driver inattention becomes even more dangerous. Drivers may simply fail to notice a child waiting to cross, or they may misjudge a child’s speed and trajectory. In the absence of a crossing guard to act as a visual cue, the responsibility falls on the driver to be constantly vigilant – a responsibility that is often compromised by distractions.
Advocating for Safer Crosswalks
The safety of children, particularly in school zones, should be a paramount concern. As such, communities must advocate for safer crosswalks to help mitigate the risks posed by unmanned crossings. For example, some steps community members can take include:
- Reaching out to local officials about their concerns
- Supporting traffic safety initiatives
- Promoting public awareness
- Pushing for improved infrastructure, including traffic signals, pedestrian crosswalks with flashing lights, and other safety measures
- Supporting the hiring and deployment of crossing guards at busy school crossings
In the wake of the most recent pedestrian accident, the families of other students hit by vehicles while crossing in crosswalks near school zones, and members of the community, have come together to advocate for safety measures.
The driver who struck and killed the teen outside a Lakota school in 2018 was charged with misdemeanor vehicular homicide. A parents group, including the mother of the teen killed in a pedestrian accident, rejuvenated a push to elevate the charges to a felony offense for hitting a child in a school zone. They seek to see the charges and punishment for hitting a child in a school zone to be treated like hitting a worker in a construction zone.Pedestrian accidents, particularly those involving children in school zones, can have serious and lasting physical, emotional, and financial effects. If your child was hit by a car while crossing in a crosswalk, you have options. Contact us today to discuss your rights at 513-400-0000. Our Cincinnati, Ohio, law firm offers FREE initial consultations.
