Carson can do more for pedestrians

Carson City can do more to protect pedestrians. We noted with interest a campaign in Reno, where the police department will begin distributing bumper stickers that read "I stop for pedestrians." It's a simple enough idea, and we'd like to see it spread to Carson City.

Unfortunately, pedestrian deaths is another one of those categories in which Nevada ranks near the top when it should be closer to the bottom. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration puts the figure at 2.39 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents, making Nevada fifth in the nation.

We've long urged the state and city to erect signs somewhere along Carson Street and Highway 50 informing motorists they must "Stop for pedestrians in crosswalk." It seems like such a simple reminder, yet it's apparently a low priority.

As has been noted on this page before, there are faded, nearly unreadable signs all along Carson Street informing drivers they can't park on the street - something that would seem to be fairly obvious. Wouldn't it do much more for safety if those were replaced by "Stop for pedestrians in crosswalk" signs?

Yielding to pedestrians is the law, yes, but it's also a matter of habit and convention. When drivers are diligent in watching the crosswalks and of being alert to the possibility traffic ahead is stopped for a pedestrian, then their behavior is also adopted by the motorists around them.

Many Carson City residents - we'd even say most, on a good day - practice admirable pedestrian etiquette. It only takes one inattentive or ignorant driver, however, to cause a tragedy.

Much of the traffic moving on Carson Street remains pass-through traffic. Those drivers need to be reminded of their responsibilities.

Let's not wait for another pedestrian to be hit before we take the initiative on pedestrian safety.