Ask Auntie, CNS Local Life, Caymanian status

Why didn’t the NRA put walk/don’t walk pedestrian crossings to stop the situation that one pedestrian crosses, gets to the other side, another one starts to cross… cars still waiting… that pedestrian crosses then two more decide they want to cross, etc. It would make much more sense to have this synched so traffic moves as one and pedestrians move as one.


Auntie’s answer: I take your point, though I have a different perspective as to why the lights may be needed. On two separate occasions a car blew through a zebra crossing right in front of me, in the middle of a sunny day, while I was halfway across the street. And on one of those occasions, the driver was on her cell phone. I will spare you a description of my reactions to those reckless and clueless drivers.

I know I have digressed here but I saw a chance to vent since you brought up pedestrian crossings.

Anyway, I asked the National Roads Authority about installing walk/don’t walk signals as you suggested and I was told that these are only used at intersections. While acknowledging that they could be used at “mid-block crossings”, it is thought signals at those locations would cause an “unnecessary back-up of vehicles”.

The ways the crossings work now, as you noted, is that cars can only move once the pedestrian has walked across the street. A stoplight would force cars to sit until it turns green which, depending on the time of day and the street, could result in a line of vehicles waiting there with no pedestrian in sight.

However, the official said that the NRA is planning to add more button-operated flashing lights at crossings “mostly at schools”, which I don’t think anyone would take issue with.

But, in addition, the official said that the concern expressed over the efficiency/safety of a zebra crossing vs using walk/don’t walk signals – especially if it puts a pedestrian such as yours truly in danger – is going to be passed along.

I will follow up with the NRA to see if any action is taken.

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