Monday’s traffic crash that killed one person (Tribune June 27: “Chicago cab hits building in Streeterville”) and injured two was no “accident”: Someone was at fault. And it’s time we started taking responsibility as a society and as individuals for the roughly 33,000 people who die violently on our roadways each year. A 40-year-old man was killed while walking down the sidewalk — a space we rightfully assume is safe for people on foot — by a man who was driving too fast and not exercising due care. A woman passenger who was injured entrusted her safety to this same driver. Most traffic crashes, including Monday’s tragic event, are the result of human error, thus preventable. But until we confront this as a collective issue, our streets will remain hostile, dangerous environments for everyone.
According to the Illinois Secretary of State, the driver had a license in “good standing”– despite being issued nearly 30 traffic violations since 1988 with three convictions. A local businessperson was quoted by the Tribune as saying, “You see [cab drivers] cutting people off, fighting for fares from tourists, you hear the screeching tires…it’s terrible and it happens all the time. I’m surprised I haven’t seen more accidents in this area.”
We agree. In what has become the accepted norm, today’s typical roadway experience is characterized by people rushing, being inattentive and unsympathetic to the safety of others. We are increasingly distracted, irritated and discourteous. Everyone suffers when we allow our impatience to dominate our decision making, with people who walk and bike being particularly vulnerable.
Whether driving for a living or for personal reasons, we must do so not only within the law, but with special care and concern for others. Driving is a privilege, not a right, which comes with a real responsibility for the welfare of others. We urge people to slow down, keep both hands on the wheel or handlebars, be alert and communicate clearly with others on the road (and not with the Chicago salute). Give respect and priority to the people who need it most: people on foot or bike, older adults, children, people with disabilities. It really is about all of us. And when next behind the wheel of a car, ask yourself if it’s worth a person’s life to shave a few minutes off your trip. (Answer: it’s not.)
— Melody Geraci, Deputy Director, Active Transportation Alliance, Chicago
