PUBLIC FORUM : READERS RECOUNT DANGERS OF TRAVELING ON FOOT IN L.A. AREA.

Five years ago, my 6-year-old daughter was run over by a negligent driver in a residential neighborhood.

Although my daughter was supervised as she crossed the street, she was struck by a vehicle going 45 mph, went up over the hood, under the vehicle and rolled 90 feet. She sustained a catastrophic head injury, but by the grace of God she survived. The driver of the vehicle has never shown any remorse but instead filed for bankruptcy.

We all need to slow down and drive the old-fashioned way - with both hands on the steering wheel and our eyes on the road to avert mishaps that happen only too quickly. We need to remember that our automobiles are lethal weapons and not an extension of our egos or libidos, as the commercials would like us to believe. Perhaps stricter laws regarding auto vs. pedestrian accidents will force drivers to drive with caution and respect human life.

- Mary Sloan

Granada Hills

Although it's embarrassing for me to write this, I feel it's only just for me to expose the danger of reckless drivers to pedestrians.

When I was working in Glendale, I would take the 134 Freeway and exit on the Central-Brand off-ramp. Upon reaching Brand Boulevard, I would usually take a right. I recall one particular incident, while making a right turn onto Brand, in which I just barely glanced both ways before making the turn. In doing so, I bumped an elderly man crossing the street.

Thank God he was not hurt. I'm just one of the few, though, who would actually stop to make sure he was OK. There are many people out there who would do this and just continue on in their rush to get to work on time - without thinking twice about it.

This just shows what kind of risks pedestrians face and will face in the future as our population continues to increase.

Motorcycle police should focus on catching these careless drivers as well as the speed monsters out on the streets of Los Angeles. I witness incidents like mine, and worse, everyday!

Pedestrians practically have to run across crosswalks because of careless drivers who just can't wait to clear intersections. Maybe careless-driver traps should be set up in well-known, dangerous pedestrian crosswalks, just like speed traps.

Pedestrians have the right of way. This right has been lost in our mad dash to our daily destinations.

- Maria M. Mendez

Panorama City

As someone who does not drive, pedestrian safety is extremely important to me. As a blind pedestrian, carrying a long, white cane, it is even more critical.

I obey the traffic laws by listening to the flow of traffic, then crossing with my parallel traffic. It has become increasingly difficult to cross streets without motorists turning uncomfortably close to me. I actually had the end of my white cane run over while walking down a sidewalk by a motorist pulling out of a parking lot.

The White Cane Law was established to protect blind people using a white cane or guide dog. White Cane Safety Day is proclaimed by the president and the governor every year on Oct. 15. The purpose of this day is to educate the public about this law. The section of the law that deals with blind or partially sighted pedestrians can be found in the Vehicle Code, Section 21963. It is hoped that this information will help motorists to be more mindful of existing traffic laws and to be cautious when approaching any pedestrian.

- Nancy L. Burns

Burbank

It is too dangerous walking in crosswalks! Rude and road-raging drivers are prevalent. Some U-turn illegally. One hit me and knocked me down. He sped off along Van Nuys Boulevard near the Civic Center.

Even at 72, I can walk fast, but I just barely make it across wide streets in the San Fernando Valley. Many elderly and handicapped people cannot cross in time. It would be a good idea to increase the crossing time an additional three to five seconds for these people.

These days you must look left for cars making right turns and crossing the crosswalk you are walking in. I was nearly run over several times this way. It would be best to increase police enforcement of those violators.

- Sheldon H. Walter

Van Nuys

I've written in before about almost being hit constantly, the latest as recently as yesterday (Sept. 29), but what can be done about it? Where I have the near-hits is in a crosswalk where two elderly residents of a nearby rest home were struck only a few months ago. The danger remains the same. I'm speaking of the off-ramp crosswalk from the Ventura Freeway on Pass Avenue in Burbank. The yellow ``caution pedestrian crossing'' sign is so old, it's barely visible. Yesterday, the driver (as usual) was so intent on making that right turn on Pass Avenue that he came within inches of hitting me when I held up a newspaper and yelled, ``Stop!'' Since I am deaf, I'm doubly careful at all times. So why do I have to be in fear of my life just to cross the street?

- Elaine Rockstad

Burbank

Because of the old California law that ``pedestrians have the right of way,'' there is an attitude and ignorance that a car will stop for them.

Pedestrians have two feet, two eyes, a head that turns both ways and a brain. If they use these when stepping off a curb, if there is a danger, they can stop on a dime and avoid disaster. But they don't. And if parents don't take precautions, how are they going to teach their children? Drivers are completely oblivious to the fact that they are driving a 2- to 3-ton lethal weapon. They talk on the phone, drink hot coffee, don't use directional signals, speed and use the rear-view mirror when applying makeup.

Just driving in L.A. is obstacle enough when you are driving with both hands on the wheel and using every mental and physical element possible. A vehicle does not stop on a dime - it skids.

L.A.'s street department has admitted it has not repainted crosswalks for years due to the cost. On too many streets even the lane lines are difficult to see. Of course our legislature is looking to support the reason for their jobs and will come up with some new laws and of course that is stupid because no one adheres to or enforces the old laws.

Simple caution and consideration for others is the answer, but we all know that's impossible. The problem will continue with injured pedestrians and jailed drivers.

- Phoebe Dinsmore

Los Angeles

I am a very observant person, and I try to give everyone around me consideration, including myself. What I see today is pedestrians taking advantage of the old saying ``Pedestrians have the right of way.'' The allotted time to cross a traffic-signal intersection seems OK, providing the pedestrian starts at the right time (regardless of street width) after pushing the button. Now, of course, we have to give thought to the aggressiveness of people today - drivers and pedestrians.

I truly believe that if we all slow down a little and give more consideration to others, things would be a lot better. I think we should all take a look in the mirror.

- Mickey L. Karle

Chatsworth

Re Pedestrian safety:

I think that most traffic signals do not allow sufficient time for pedestrians to cross, especially the elderly and the handicapped. Being elderly, I am very careful and do not cross unless the signal has just changed to ``Walk.''

To me, the most hazardous part of crossing the street, with the signal, are the cars making left turns. They often cut in front of you, coming dangerously close and sometimes appear to be heading right at you. You don't know whether to go forward or back up. I freeze at such times.

When there is no signal, I don't cross unless the nearest car is a block away. Even then, you may get only halfway across before they are almost on top of you. The painted crosswalks are useless, in my opinion.

I think it is only by the grace of God that I have survived over 57 years as a pedestrian in Los Angeles.

- Marie Dailey

Los Angeles

As an avid walker in L.A., including the San Fernando Valley, it is extremely rare when crossing a street at a traffic signal, in a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, that the drivers stop. Drivers are more intent on getting to where they are going than having any regard for the safety of a pedestrian.

Even when a driver observes that one is off the curb in a crosswalk, attempting to cross, they look at you as if you have a lot of nerve trying to cross the street and drive on by. In some instances, if a driver does stop, the vehicle behind him tries to pass.

Have drivers forgotten that the California Vehicle Code states that drivers shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection? Or do they just not care?

- Judy Gordon

Los Angeles

I am a pedestrian, and I know from experience that there are many potentially dangerous situations for pedestrians on our streets. The one that I think is most dangerous is when a driver has the right to make a right turn against a red light. The driver is hunched over his steering wheel, watching the traffic to his left, until he sees that it is safe for him to make his right turn. When his opportunity comes, he usually guns his engine and takes off rapidly to get around the corner before any more traffic comes along.

Unfortunately, there may be a pedestrian stepping into the street at that exact moment. The pedestrian knows that he has the right of way because he sees a green light and a ``Walk'' sign telling him that it is OK to walk across the street. He has no idea that the driver in front of him is about to run him down.

All pedestrians, children and adults, must be taught to catch the eye of the driver in that right lane. If the driver is looking to his left, it is better to wait for the next light than to risk getting killed.

I think it is important for children to be taught in school how to safely cross the street and to know the dangers in stepping into a street where the driver does not see the pedestrian.

- Elvira Mastro

Los Angeles

As for pedestrian crossings, I have never made it across an avenue or a boulevard before the light changed, at least not in the past several years. A healthy young adult walking at a brisk speed may make it, but barely.

But what about children, handicapped people and old people? Have we become expendable? And what about the loss of an attitude of restfulness and security, which are so essential to the good health of the community?

Most dangerous are crosswalks for schoolchildren across wide thoroughfares. I have seen speeding cars stop just short of running over the crossing guard as he stands in the middle of the street, desperately waving his sign. I believe car advertisements have brought about a reckless mentality in many drivers.

- Mary Matosian Morabito

Temple City

The answer to your questions are:

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Crossing a street (or even a driveway) is risky. Many of the streets are too wide. Many pedestrians don't look around them while crossing roads. Many drivers don't look around them while driving.

The pedestrian safety issue is just one more result of the lack of education and training, which has led to the ``free for all'' situation that has become standard procedure on our roads. I'm surprised the accident rate is so low.

- William H. Brady

Reseda

We are regular walkers as well as regular drivers, so we see the problem from both sides. It would be unfair and inaccurate to look at your question from only one perspective. Every day one sees pedestrians doing foolish things that unnecessarily endanger their lives. Crossing a street when one is only 50 feet or so from a corner seems like an invitation for an injury or death.

Yet, people do it all the time. However, I doubt that you will find many instances in your statistics where an errant pedestrian has run over the driver of a motor vehicle and killed him. You will on the other hand, find thousands of instances where the driver of the vehicle is too busy doing other things, has too many things on his or her mind, or is simply driving too fast for anyone's own good. When we walk in the morning, we take our lives in our hands when we cross main streets at a corner where there is no signal. The percentage of people who will even slow down to allow a pedestrian to get out of the way is small. Most of the time they continue to pour the coal to their vehicles and cause us to scurry across or wait. The trait of courtesy and politeness is nearly lost in the San Fernando Valley today.

Finally, isn't the question of whether the streets are too wide rather superfluous? The streets are here. They cannot be ``narrowed.'' But the walk periods at intersections can be adjusted with the turn of a screw in a control box.

- Richard and Corrie Warren

Van Nuys

My biggest peeve is that more and more pedestrians are crossing against ``Don't Walk'' signals. The signals might as well not even be there. They are also crossing anywhere they please, even if a crosswalk is nearby. Instead of walking purposefully to get across the street before a signal changes (excepting, of course, the elderly or infirm), they insolently stroll across the street, holding up any right-hand turns and daring you to make a move and, if they don't make it before the signal changes, holding up the new flow of traffic.

It seems that, along with the ``It's not my fault; it has to be someone else's fault'' mentality that exists today, people seem to think that the rules of civilization don't apply to them. They can do whatever they want whenever they want, and rules be damned.

- Sheila Cooley

Van Nuys

Why are pedestrians killed or injured? I'd like to make the following observations: Too many pedestrians when crossing at a crosswalk controlled by a pedestrian signal fail to push the button so that when the light turns green for motorists, it also turns ``Walk'' for pedestrians. That's when you want to start walking, not when it flashes red ``Don't Walk,'' or is solid red ``Don't Walk.'' I have seen too many pedestrians start to cross Ventura Boulevard when the pedestrian signal tells them not to start walking.

For those of us who are senior citizens, when you begin to cross an intersection, don't dawdle. Get across as rapidly as you can. And please start walking when the pedestrian signal says ``Walk.'' Maybe some of them feel that they have the absolute right to cross; however, once in a while you read that it was not the motorists fault when the pedestrian was hit. A lot of them fail to recognize that cars cannot stop on a dime.

And, mothers, please see that your children don't run into the street. Sometimes the motorist cannot stop in time. And if you are going to walk in a residential area where there are no sidewalks, please, please walk facing traffic. People, including teen-agers, have been injured or killed because they failed to observe this most fundamental rule.

- Frank Levin

Encino

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Photo: no caption (Pedestrians crossing street)

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer