I am writing in response to Monday’s article, “Student hit by SUV; remains in hospital.”

In September, I wrote a letter to President M. Peter McPherson that then ran as a Page One story in The State News about pedestrian safety on campus (“Student concerned with ‘U’ traffic,” SN 9/21). This, along with a few other people submitting opinions to The State News, led to campus police saying they were going to begin policing the crosswalks.

However, with this latest accident on campus, I feel it is important to point out the crosswalks on campus are still as dangerous as ever. I have yet to see a police officer pull over anyone for failing to yield in a crosswalk, or one of the many people who run the red light at the crosswalk between Erickson Hall and the bus transfer lot by Shaw Hall.

Even if the female who was hit turns out to be at fault, there are still many other people who are lucky that they have not been hit on campus who are not at fault. Drivers on campus have still yet to realize the need to slow down, and to stop for red lights.

I must say that it has gotten better in the past, but it seems that the message about slowing down has begun to fade. This incident should serve as a reminder to all of us, pedestrian and driver, that we must slow down and be aware of the signals for crosswalks and look for oncoming traffic.

Also, if the police would put a traffic unit out during the day to just monitor the crosswalks and lights for one day, it would be apparent just how many people disregard the law each day, and possibly send a message to everyone that pedestrian safety is a priority.

Matt Mitroka
geography senior