It's a life or death situation for kids trying to get to school at La Mesa Elementary. The City of Albuquerque does nothing.
Albuquerque - At first I didn’t understand it. I thought all the drivers were trying to kill me. Every day I would cross the street at the intersection of Copper & Espanola to get my kids to school in the morning, and every day I would almost be run over. Sure, I should’ve probably crossed a block up where the crossing guards were, but even waking up at 5:30 in the morning didn’t give me enough time to get everyone ready for school on time, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to walk a block up the road just to be late. But it was a risk. Even after the bell rang it could still be dangerous.
One time I was sure I was going to be killed. My two-year-old was holding my hand crossing the street after dropping off his brother and sister, and I didn’t see a single car on the road. We were already half way across the intersection when all of a sudden an SUV came barreling toward us. There was no time for me to react. The vehicle was just there, in my face. Luckily the lady behind the wheel stopped before I took another step, but still, my heart was racing. And that wasn’t even the closest call I’ve witnessed on that intersection.
Kids are literally running for their lives to get across the street, and nobody gives a damn. I sent an email to my city councillor about this problem, raised the issue on social media, complained via 3-11, and have talked to school officials about it, yet nothing has been done. In fact, the problem has gotten worse. One of the flashers on the school zone lights has been out for a week now and no one has attempted to fix it. That same flasher has been obstructed by overgrown trees for months and there is a lack of signage and striping on the roads to remind drivers of the safety hazards. And still, it is a life or death situation for some of these kids every day, as not everyone has the option of crossing at the crosswalk. Many kids have to cross Espanola from the west, as there is no other way to get to school from their homes, and others come from the south where there is no signage or flashers to be seen at all. It’s all very hazardous and dangerous for public safety. And yet nobody seems to care. They are more worried about Donald Trump or terrorism to care about the lives of these awesome kids.
But I drove to school the other day instead of walking, and now I am beginning to understand. The difference is like night and day. Behind the wheel things are different. I mean, the kid just appeared out of nowhere. I was pulling in to the parking lot and he turned to look at me, as if I was an idiot. And I was. He didn’t attempt to cross in front of me, and at the speed I was going no one would’ve been hurt had we bumped, but still, where did that kid come from and why did I still continue to pull in to the parking lot when I know pedestrians always have the right of way? Perhaps it was because my engine was revving too high. Or maybe I was just in too much of a hurry.
And that’s what I’ve noticed the most. People are in so much of a rush that they simply don't see the pedestrians. Behind the wheel they are just obstacles to be avoided. But when you’re on the ground, walking on the roads, it’s your life that's at stake. Most drivers are simply unaware because they don't walk. They have no idea what it's like to have to worry about one of their kids getting killed just trying to get to school. The most obvious thing we can do is just stop at the damn stop signs. Slow down and don't worry about your deadlines, the time clock at work, the pay booth, or whatever is causing you to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. You'll get there when you get there, so chill out. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
But it doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes we have to be on time, and being aware of everything at all times at 35 miles per hour is just impossible, much less at 60 or 75 miles per hour. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t solutions. Number one (1.) - Don’t go over the speed bump, look at the stop sign, and then gun it to see how fast you can burn through the intersection. That’s just stupid. If you kill my kid doing that I'm going to want to kill you. Most people would. Number two (2.) - Stop at the stop sign! They put it there for a reason. Number three (3.) - Remember, that could be your kid, so keep that in mind the next time you race through the intersection without looking. Most of the culprits are parents dropping off their kids, trying to get to work on time. I've noticed that most offenders are 30-40 year-old women in vans or SUVs, most of the time on their phones. They are the most dangerous and deadly. Pedestrians should always stop and wait for this group of drivers, as they simply cannot see you nor do they have any intent of ever trying to see you. They have more important things going on than to worry about your life. You are invisible to them. Number four (4.) - Pray.
I think there is hope for this problem though. Driver awareness and infrastructure repair projects could alleviate many of these dangers, and as long as there is a will to stay alive there will be a push to make pedestrian and vehicle safety more of a priority for government officials. I mean, more people die in auto accidents than terrorist attacks, yet no one is scared to drive their cars.* I find that fascinating - a really strange phenomenon. But things are the way they are and changing them isn’t all that simple. I’ve considered having my kids wear neon shirts and hold their own stop signs while crossing the street, and even thought about spray painting glow in the dark paint across the intersection, but we’ve developed a better method. We put our hands up ✋ and run 🏃. Just like everyone else. It’s not like Cairo where everyday is a game of Frogger, but it’s getting to be more and more like that.
It's strange though how I thought these were only third world issues that would be solved when they just caught up. I didn’t know it was an American problem too.** But I do now and even understand the issue. Number one is discrimination. Kids going to school in poorer parts of town have to stay poor because they already are poor. That’s a simple rule. Since you live in a poor part of town it’s your own damn fault and you have to pay the consequences, at least that's how it seems when you drive around and see that other schools in more upscale parts of town tend to have better maintained school grounds. Number two is poor leadership. Albuquerque’s mayor, chief of police, and city councilors have sat on their hands, doing nothing to make life better and safer for the people of Albuquerque. Instead of spending the money onthe schools to keep our kids safe from dangerous motorists, everyone gets all worked up over gangs and terrorists and throw more money at the cops to solve that problem, instead of the one that is actually killing the most people. Number three is - the rush. SLOW THE HELL DOWN! Who cares if you’re late. To hell with your boss. Your kid’s life isn’t worth it, and neither are mine. Don’t run anyone over, please.
But yeah, I get it - sometimes the pedestrians just pop up out of nowhere. But so do the cars, and they pop up much faster for the pedestrians, because they’re moving faster. That means pedestrians have less time to react than drivers, so please check out the other perspective, see the damn stop signs and stop! Most importantly, don’t run any kids over. As for the city of Albuquerque and their response, well, I expect nothing. It’s up to the parents and the teachers. The city won’t do crap. So happy holidays, stay safe, and please, don’t run anyone over. Thanks.
* According to an injury prevention report on the CDC website, "Globally, an estimated 3,300 people are killed each day, including 720 children, in road traffic crashes involving cars, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, and pedestrians. Annually, 1.24 million are killed and 20–50 million are injured in traffic crashes—a number likely to double by 2030 . . . Motor vehicle crashes—not crime or terrorism—are the number 1 killer of healthy US citizens living, working, or traveling in foreign countries."
** "Although only 53% of the world’s vehicles are in developing countries, 90% of road traffic casualties occur in these countries."
Albuquerque - At first I didn’t understand it. I thought all the drivers were trying to kill me. Every day I would cross the street at the intersection of Copper & Espanola to get my kids to school in the morning, and every day I would almost be run over. Sure, I should’ve probably crossed a block up where the crossing guards were, but even waking up at 5:30 in the morning didn’t give me enough time to get everyone ready for school on time, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to walk a block up the road just to be late. But it was a risk. Even after the bell rang it could still be dangerous.
One time I was sure I was going to be killed. My two-year-old was holding my hand crossing the street after dropping off his brother and sister, and I didn’t see a single car on the road. We were already half way across the intersection when all of a sudden an SUV came barreling toward us. There was no time for me to react. The vehicle was just there, in my face. Luckily the lady behind the wheel stopped before I took another step, but still, my heart was racing. And that wasn’t even the closest call I’ve witnessed on that intersection.
Kids are literally running for their lives to get across the street, and nobody gives a damn. I sent an email to my city councillor about this problem, raised the issue on social media, complained via 3-11, and have talked to school officials about it, yet nothing has been done. In fact, the problem has gotten worse. One of the flashers on the school zone lights has been out for a week now and no one has attempted to fix it. That same flasher has been obstructed by overgrown trees for months and there is a lack of signage and striping on the roads to remind drivers of the safety hazards. And still, it is a life or death situation for some of these kids every day, as not everyone has the option of crossing at the crosswalk. Many kids have to cross Espanola from the west, as there is no other way to get to school from their homes, and others come from the south where there is no signage or flashers to be seen at all. It’s all very hazardous and dangerous for public safety. And yet nobody seems to care. They are more worried about Donald Trump or terrorism to care about the lives of these awesome kids.
But I drove to school the other day instead of walking, and now I am beginning to understand. The difference is like night and day. Behind the wheel things are different. I mean, the kid just appeared out of nowhere. I was pulling in to the parking lot and he turned to look at me, as if I was an idiot. And I was. He didn’t attempt to cross in front of me, and at the speed I was going no one would’ve been hurt had we bumped, but still, where did that kid come from and why did I still continue to pull in to the parking lot when I know pedestrians always have the right of way? Perhaps it was because my engine was revving too high. Or maybe I was just in too much of a hurry.
And that’s what I’ve noticed the most. People are in so much of a rush that they simply don't see the pedestrians. Behind the wheel they are just obstacles to be avoided. But when you’re on the ground, walking on the roads, it’s your life that's at stake. Most drivers are simply unaware because they don't walk. They have no idea what it's like to have to worry about one of their kids getting killed just trying to get to school. The most obvious thing we can do is just stop at the damn stop signs. Slow down and don't worry about your deadlines, the time clock at work, the pay booth, or whatever is causing you to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. You'll get there when you get there, so chill out. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
But it doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes we have to be on time, and being aware of everything at all times at 35 miles per hour is just impossible, much less at 60 or 75 miles per hour. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t solutions. Number one (1.) - Don’t go over the speed bump, look at the stop sign, and then gun it to see how fast you can burn through the intersection. That’s just stupid. If you kill my kid doing that I'm going to want to kill you. Most people would. Number two (2.) - Stop at the stop sign! They put it there for a reason. Number three (3.) - Remember, that could be your kid, so keep that in mind the next time you race through the intersection without looking. Most of the culprits are parents dropping off their kids, trying to get to work on time. I've noticed that most offenders are 30-40 year-old women in vans or SUVs, most of the time on their phones. They are the most dangerous and deadly. Pedestrians should always stop and wait for this group of drivers, as they simply cannot see you nor do they have any intent of ever trying to see you. They have more important things going on than to worry about your life. You are invisible to them. Number four (4.) - Pray.
I think there is hope for this problem though. Driver awareness and infrastructure repair projects could alleviate many of these dangers, and as long as there is a will to stay alive there will be a push to make pedestrian and vehicle safety more of a priority for government officials. I mean, more people die in auto accidents than terrorist attacks, yet no one is scared to drive their cars.* I find that fascinating - a really strange phenomenon. But things are the way they are and changing them isn’t all that simple. I’ve considered having my kids wear neon shirts and hold their own stop signs while crossing the street, and even thought about spray painting glow in the dark paint across the intersection, but we’ve developed a better method. We put our hands up ✋ and run 🏃. Just like everyone else. It’s not like Cairo where everyday is a game of Frogger, but it’s getting to be more and more like that.
It's strange though how I thought these were only third world issues that would be solved when they just caught up. I didn’t know it was an American problem too.** But I do now and even understand the issue. Number one is discrimination. Kids going to school in poorer parts of town have to stay poor because they already are poor. That’s a simple rule. Since you live in a poor part of town it’s your own damn fault and you have to pay the consequences, at least that's how it seems when you drive around and see that other schools in more upscale parts of town tend to have better maintained school grounds. Number two is poor leadership. Albuquerque’s mayor, chief of police, and city councilors have sat on their hands, doing nothing to make life better and safer for the people of Albuquerque. Instead of spending the money onthe schools to keep our kids safe from dangerous motorists, everyone gets all worked up over gangs and terrorists and throw more money at the cops to solve that problem, instead of the one that is actually killing the most people. Number three is - the rush. SLOW THE HELL DOWN! Who cares if you’re late. To hell with your boss. Your kid’s life isn’t worth it, and neither are mine. Don’t run anyone over, please.
But yeah, I get it - sometimes the pedestrians just pop up out of nowhere. But so do the cars, and they pop up much faster for the pedestrians, because they’re moving faster. That means pedestrians have less time to react than drivers, so please check out the other perspective, see the damn stop signs and stop! Most importantly, don’t run any kids over. As for the city of Albuquerque and their response, well, I expect nothing. It’s up to the parents and the teachers. The city won’t do crap. So happy holidays, stay safe, and please, don’t run anyone over. Thanks.
* According to an injury prevention report on the CDC website, "Globally, an estimated 3,300 people are killed each day, including 720 children, in road traffic crashes involving cars, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, and pedestrians. Annually, 1.24 million are killed and 20–50 million are injured in traffic crashes—a number likely to double by 2030 . . . Motor vehicle crashes—not crime or terrorism—are the number 1 killer of healthy US citizens living, working, or traveling in foreign countries."
** "Although only 53% of the world’s vehicles are in developing countries, 90% of road traffic casualties occur in these countries."