Another Pedestrian Fatality on Roosevelt Blvd

According to CBS 3 a 44 YO woman was killed while crossing the Boulevard at Rhawn St. The driver did stop and was not charged but had to be treated for shock.

This reflects a disturbing trend in fatal crashes involving vulnerable road users (pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists). A new report from NHTSA indicates that from 2004 to 2005 pedestrian deaths jumped 5%, bicycle deaths 7% and motorcycle deaths 13%.

In response NHTSA meanwhile has put out this statement "NHTSA is working to reduce the number of motorcycle fatalities by encouraging motorcyclists to get proper training, always wear helmets, and absolutely never drink and ride."

That's well and good but it only addresses half the problem, the other half of course are the fast moving 2000 pound vehicles striking vulnerable road users. No one at NHTSA has the political will to admit that taming traffic is the way to put a real dent in traffic fatalities.

I have a friend that was hit by a car near the corner of the gas station back in '96-'97. It's been so long I can't remember. He was hit so hard that after his head went through the windshield he was thrown to the other side of Rhawn Street in front if the Checkers. Luckily, he survived without any internal injuries. He suffered a broken arm and leg and still has a scar on his face.

People do not realize how crazy they drive until it happens to them.

Same thing with Pennypack and the River. Every year someone drowns and every year the news makes headlines. And every following year someone else drowns.

Over ten years ago I lost two friends in Pennypack. We were on the news, wrote letters, lobbyied for signs that restricted swimming. Every year since then, there has been a tragedy. Everything is relative.

That Boulevard scares me out of my wits.

That had to be horrific in both those cases. Thank God your friend lived though. That's nothing short of a miracle.

I've actually been going out of my way more often and hitting the 88 or 66 instead of crossing that thing. Also, the poor crossing guards doing that duty.
Like what is going to happen when someone mows them down? Those kids God forbid will be hit too.