April - May 2002 Edition

Does Anybody Stop For Pedestrians   After the most recent death of the 78 year old woman who was trying to cross a street, several residents told Fair Lawn News that they often worry about crossing streets in Fair Lawn.     Dr. Michael Miller said “nobody ever seems to yield to pedestrians in Fair Lawn”.   Todd Malkin said “I recently saw seven cars speed right past a woman, while she was in the middle of the street”.     Blair Seidler thinks “we should follow the southern California model, if a person sticks his toe in the street and a car doesn’t yield, the driver gets a $100 ticket, no questions asked”.  Fair Lawn Police Sgt. Robert Boyle said "in California, if you put one foot out, people will come to a screeching halt.  That doesn't seem to happen Fair Lawn."   One resident told Fair Lawn News that he has even seen police cars fail to yield.   New Jersey’s law states that the driver of a vehicle should yield the right of way in a marked crosswalk or at an intersection (except where someone is directing traffic, there is a traffic signal or it is prohibited by law).  According to the law, a pedestrian may not leave a curb suddenly if it is impossible for a driver to yield.    Sgt. Boyle said that in Fair Lawn, drivers do not often get tickets for failing to yield to a pedestrian. He said that it can be difficult for a police officer to observe a violator and then stop the driver.  An officer may need to pursue the car through heavy traffic.  He said the dangers of a police pursuit could outweigh the benefits of a summons.     WHAT DO YOU THINK?  Send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com and/or come to April 23rd council meeting, 7:30 at the Municipal Building (next to the Library) and express your opinion).