Festival season demands more caution on roads

It’s a different world out there on the streets during festival

season.

A simple drive through town can become a frustrating trek, and

then, if you try to park, well, get ready to pull out a few strands

of hair.

It’s not just that there’s more cars out there. It seems like

drivers actually display more aggressive and less considerate

behavior. It can be maddening and scary. And that’s if you’re in a

car.

For those on foot, well, beware. Those of us so used to our usual

crosswalk have to keep an eye out for visitors who aren’t familiar

with crosswalk locations or are so frustrated they don’t hesitate to

cut off pedestrians. We can shake our fists at them if we want, but

if we aren’t watching out, the damage will already be done.

The biggest problem, however, is pedestrians crossing in the

middle of the road between the festivals. It seems obvious, but it

goes on all summer, and it’s just a plain ol’ bad idea. You might

think you know how to watch out for yourself, but standing on the

median itself can be risky: One false move and you can be in the path

of a fast-moving car. Drivers aren’t looking out for pedestrians in

non-crosswalk areas. Drivers are trying to figure out which festival

they’re going to, where they’ll be parking and why the driver in

front of them can’t stay in his lane.

Sadly, we need to remember that in November, Santosh Rao, a

tourist from India, was hit and killed by a truck while crossing the

street on his way to the Sawdust Festival Winter Fantasy.

No parent, sibling or spouse wants to hear of the death of a loved

one because the crosswalk would have been five minutes out of the

way.