St. Louis University Students Call for Safer Crosswalks Over Rising Campus Accidents
Students urge SLU to improve traffic systems and safety measures.
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Saint Louis University (SLU)students are speaking up from a growing concern on campus; a safe crosswalk, following an accident on September 12 when a fellow student was hit by a Jeep Wrangler at the Grand Boulevard road. While the student only suffered minor injuries, the incident has urged discussions about the safety of campus intersections for all students.
For students, the road is often described as the most hazardous for pedestrians in St. Louis. It has brought warnings and appeals for safe measures from students and advocacy groups. SLU On The Move president Enrique Riojas said that this issue wasn't new, and immediate attention was necessary.
Some solutions that Riojas proposed are repainting the crosswalk lines, installing bollards, and improving the traffic light timing system, per UNews. He further added that rush hour causes frustration for drivers at this crosswalk since it holds the whole line of traffic when only one student presses the button to enter. This has resulted in some dangerous road rage behaviors: speeding through or honking impatiently.
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SLU Called to Improve Safe Crosswalks
Paige Bostic, a junior, also noted that a crossing guard can make a difference in the reduction of accidents. However, other students, such as Addy Aque, lamented that drivers usually run through red lights and fail to observe pedestrians.
While some of the students say the problem is reckless driving, others argue that SLU has done what it could, like installing bollards, to improve the safety features. However, they concede that some aggressive drivers cannot be controlled. Anna Brand commented that SLU has done its part, but "some drivers" are just impossible to control.
As winter brings earlier sunsets and possible weather hazards, students are urged to stay alert and cautious at intersections.
Whether SLU or local authorities will implement further safety changes remains to be seen, as there were already improvements in the crosswalk and roads linked to the university in 2018, NextSTL reported. Regardless, SLU students are hopeful that the university will take meaningful action before another accident occurs.
