PG County: Two Children Killed While Walking to Riverdale Elementary

[Anonymous]

If it was a large car with the way manufacturers are making car hoods unnecessarily large, even an 8 year old wouldn't be visible right in front of it. Add in any other visibility issues that happen around schools like cars parked all the way up to the the stop sign and it's a recipe for disaster.

[Anonymous]

Tragic. Our school pick up is so chaotic that I've paid attention and almost been in a few accidents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Speed + a moron looking at their phone

Driving today is like a death match

Irresponsible for you to speculate like that.

e
DP. WTF?

What person who is paying attention to the road, blows through children in a crosswalk? I would strongly bet the person was on their phone.

It is utterly irresponsible for you to speculate and jump to conclusions. Two children are dead. Have some goddamn respect.

You are either a troll, or someone truly committed to supporting texting while driving.

NO one is making light of the fact that two children were senselessly killed by an irresponsible and distracted driver. And cell phones are a BIG contributor to distracted driving.

It’s amazing how you have no actual knowledge of the case but have already convicted the driver of distracted driving. Wow.

Maybe you should sit the rest of this thread out.

Either the driver was distracted or… what? They were paying attention? Are you saying they hit the kids intentionally?

Or lots of things? Certainly possible the driver was distracted (you seem extremely eager to push that). Maybe the driver was drunk. Maybe the driver had a seizure. Maybe the driver was going 100 mph. Maybe the driver was going 10 mph. Maybe it wasn't even the driver's fault. It could be anything. That's why we have the police investigate.

People love to gossip and they don’t care if children died

[Anonymous]

A five year old girl and a ten year old boy. An adult was also hit but his injuries were not life threatening. Female van driver. How do you hit three people IN a crosswalk? Unfathomable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A five year old girl and a ten year old boy. An adult was also hit but his injuries were not life threatening. Female van driver. How do you hit three people IN a crosswalk? Unfathomable.

Very fathomable, unfortunately. Just in Prince George's County, just in 2022, drivers hit at least 135 people in crosswalks. Also, at least 26 people on sidewalks. Also, at least 2 crossing guards. Also, at least 11 children walking to or from school, including two who were seriously injured (both in crosswalks). You can find the data here: https://mdsp.maryland.gov/Pages/Dashboards/CrashDataDownload.aspx

[Anonymous]

My area in Virginia built tunnels under the roads where they had a lot of crossing pedestrians.

While I completely stop for pedestrians, I think that crosswalks in the middle of a divided road are a very bad idea. Cross walks should only be at intersections that have red lights or stop signs. Or a neighborhood, undivided street, which is what my school has and we have a crossing guard.

[Anonymous]

Also, the driver was turning left. Next time you're driving, check how well you can see people in the crosswalk while you're turning left. Even when you're looking, which many drivers don't do.

[Anonymous]

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We walk to/from school and people will NOT stop to let us cross. Drivers 100% see us, start to slow and then change their minds because apparently, 45 seconds is too insurmountable for their day. Its a T-intersection and only the one road has a stop sign but all directions should have a stop sign with flashing pedestrian lights and cameras for when people dont stop. I wish they would make pedestrian signs that flashed and when hit by a pedestrian turned all lights to STOP signs.

PG county has even more of a burden to increase pedestrian safety BECAUSE they wont provide busing for students that live close. I think its 1.5 mile radius for our local elementary. We have no crossing guard at the intersection we cross but the annex 1/2mile up the same street has one for HS students.

Isn't it dangerous for both cars and pedestrians if cars are stopping in the middle of a road? Seems like the car would get rear ended and the pedestrians still hit.

We have a road like this near our house where people are just jaywalking to school daily and it's dangerous for everyone. IMO the pedestrians should either walk to the light and cross or wait until cars go past to cross.

I agree that a 3 way stop would be best. Or a crossing guard. Without a crossing guard, cars don't always know to stop (we're in a multicultural area and barely anyone knows specific state rules on driving. They just automatically give people drivers licenses.)

Yes, it's dangerous for cars. No, it's not dangerous for the people in the cars.

I don't know where you live, but probably many of the "jaywalking" people are crossing at intersections, which means they are crossing in a crosswalk and have the right of way, and drivers are supposed to stop.

No, this is not correct, and it makes me so mad that so many people don't understand this. If the cars do not have a stop light/sign or flashing pedestrian crossing lights, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO STOP for pedestrians *waiting* to cross (yes, even at a marked crosswalk!). They have to stop for people *already* in the crosswalk, but as a PP mentioned, it is actually dangerous to stop in the middle of the road otherwise. Pedestrians are supposed to wait until the road is clear before they *start* crossing. It sucks when a busy intersection is never clear, but that's cause to request a pedestrian crossing light or stop sign or some other traffic flow alteration. Drivers still have a duty of care to avoid accidents whenever possible, even if they technically have right of way - but in this case, they do in fact still have right of way.

Pedestrians are not allowed to step into the crosswalk unless drivers can stop. And drivers don't have to stop unless the pedestrians are in the crosswalk. It's a Catch-22 for pedestrians, don't you think?

Alternatively: when you're driving, stop for pedestrians.

This is why crossswalks are a bad idea. And so many pedestrians just run out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My area in Virginia built tunnels under the roads where they had a lot of crossing pedestrians.

While I completely stop for pedestrians, I think that crosswalks in the middle of a divided road are a very bad idea. Cross walks should only be at intersections that have red lights or stop signs. Or a neighborhood, undivided street, which is what my school has and we have a crossing guard.

So, we should put stop signs or red lights at every intersection? I'm fine with that.

People are going to cross the street. People have to cross the street. People should be able to cross the street without being expected to go way out of their way.

Not to mention that this was at a school, in an area where people live, during arrival time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:
We walk to/from school and people will NOT stop to let us cross. Drivers 100% see us, start to slow and then change their minds because apparently, 45 seconds is too insurmountable for their day. Its a T-intersection and only the one road has a stop sign but all directions should have a stop sign with flashing pedestrian lights and cameras for when people dont stop. I wish they would make pedestrian signs that flashed and when hit by a pedestrian turned all lights to STOP signs.

PG county has even more of a burden to increase pedestrian safety BECAUSE they wont provide busing for students that live close. I think its 1.5 mile radius for our local elementary. We have no crossing guard at the intersection we cross but the annex 1/2mile up the same street has one for HS students.

Isn't it dangerous for both cars and pedestrians if cars are stopping in the middle of a road? Seems like the car would get rear ended and the pedestrians still hit.

We have a road like this near our house where people are just jaywalking to school daily and it's dangerous for everyone. IMO the pedestrians should either walk to the light and cross or wait until cars go past to cross.

I agree that a 3 way stop would be best. Or a crossing guard. Without a crossing guard, cars don't always know to stop (we're in a multicultural area and barely anyone knows specific state rules on driving. They just automatically give people drivers licenses.)

Yes, it's dangerous for cars. No, it's not dangerous for the people in the cars.

I don't know where you live, but probably many of the "jaywalking" people are crossing at intersections, which means they are crossing in a crosswalk and have the right of way, and drivers are supposed to stop.

No, this is not correct, and it makes me so mad that so many people don't understand this. If the cars do not have a stop light/sign or flashing pedestrian crossing lights, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO STOP for pedestrians *waiting* to cross (yes, even at a marked crosswalk!). They have to stop for people *already* in the crosswalk, but as a PP mentioned, it is actually dangerous to stop in the middle of the road otherwise. Pedestrians are supposed to wait until the road is clear before they *start* crossing. It sucks when a busy intersection is never clear, but that's cause to request a pedestrian crossing light or stop sign or some other traffic flow alteration. Drivers still have a duty of care to avoid accidents whenever possible, even if they technically have right of way - but in this case, they do in fact still have right of way.

Pedestrians are not allowed to step into the crosswalk unless drivers can stop. And drivers don't have to stop unless the pedestrians are in the crosswalk. It's a Catch-22 for pedestrians, don't you think?

Alternatively: when you're driving, stop for pedestrians.

This is why crossswalks are a bad idea. And so many pedestrians just run out.

so people should fly across the street?

[Anonymous]

It's time for cars that recognize a human/animal and stop. We have that technology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, the driver was turning left. Next time you're driving, check how well you can see people in the crosswalk while you're turning left. Even when you're looking, which many drivers don't do.

This is important to note! I think most pedestrian deaths have to do with people turning (because it’s easier to see people crossing directly in front of you, but when you’re turning your focus can be on oncoming traffic and whether you have time to turn). I also saw this happen before (right outside an elementary school too!) where a car was making a right on red. They must have been looking for a break in traffic to make their turn and didn’t notice the kid who had stepped into the cross walk. Thankfully the braked just in time, but it was a close call. Also there was a no right in red sign for school hours because of prior incidents but people think they’re too important to wait for the green light.

And on another note just this morning a car blew past the stop sign of my kids’ school bus as kids were loading.

Please please please be more careful around schools and buses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We walk to/from school and people will NOT stop to let us cross. Drivers 100% see us, start to slow and then change their minds because apparently, 45 seconds is too insurmountable for their day. Its a T-intersection and only the one road has a stop sign but all directions should have a stop sign with flashing pedestrian lights and cameras for when people dont stop. I wish they would make pedestrian signs that flashed and when hit by a pedestrian turned all lights to STOP signs.

PG county has even more of a burden to increase pedestrian safety BECAUSE they wont provide busing for students that live close. I think its 1.5 mile radius for our local elementary. We have no crossing guard at the intersection we cross but the annex 1/2mile up the same street has one for HS students.

Isn't it dangerous for both cars and pedestrians if cars are stopping in the middle of a road? Seems like the car would get rear ended and the pedestrians still hit.

We have a road like this near our house where people are just jaywalking to school daily and it's dangerous for everyone. IMO the pedestrians should either walk to the light and cross or wait until cars go past to cross.

I agree that a 3 way stop would be best. Or a crossing guard. Without a crossing guard, cars don't always know to stop (we're in a multicultural area and barely anyone knows specific state rules on driving. They just automatically give people drivers licenses.)

Yes, it's dangerous for cars. No, it's not dangerous for the people in the cars.

I don't know where you live, but probably many of the "jaywalking" people are crossing at intersections, which means they are crossing in a crosswalk and have the right of way, and drivers are supposed to stop.

No, this is not correct, and it makes me so mad that so many people don't understand this. If the cars do not have a stop light/sign or flashing pedestrian crossing lights, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO STOP for pedestrians *waiting* to cross (yes, even at a marked crosswalk!). They have to stop for people *already* in the crosswalk, but as a PP mentioned, it is actually dangerous to stop in the middle of the road otherwise. Pedestrians are supposed to wait until the road is clear before they *start* crossing. It sucks when a busy intersection is never clear, but that's cause to request a pedestrian crossing light or stop sign or some other traffic flow alteration. Drivers still have a duty of care to avoid accidents whenever possible, even if they technically have right of way - but in this case, they do in fact still have right of way.

Pedestrians are not allowed to step into the crosswalk unless drivers can stop. And drivers don't have to stop unless the pedestrians are in the crosswalk. It's a Catch-22 for pedestrians, don't you think?

Alternatively: when you're driving, stop for pedestrians.

This is why crossswalks are a bad idea. And so many pedestrians just run out.

so people should fly across the street?

They should go to a light or a stop sign. There are lights every 1/4 mile basically.

The driver was absolutely at fault, but this is going to keep happening until we fix road design.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are kids crossing a street without a crossing guard?

You know the majority of schools don’t have a crossing guard right?
Crossing guards are for the privileged few.

There are usually two crossing guards. One for that intersection and one for another nearby.

[Anonymous]

I thought pedestrians in crosswalks have the right of way at intersections without a light?