Description

This is more of a heads-up for Cambridge and Harvard police units. I've seen drivers on Oxford Street (near Harvard's Hoffman Laboratory) and on Mass Ave (at Garfield Street) totally ignore the flashing yellow pedestrian crossing lights. I don't know if the drivers don't stop to let pedestrians cross due to ignorance or intentional disregard. Regardless, it is a dangerous situation as pedestrians might enter the crosswalk and be hit by a car because they believe that the drivers see the flashing lights and know to stop for them. On Mass Ave, three pedestrians were half way across with the yellow lights flashing and the next two lanes of cars did not stop to let the pedestrians continue across the street to Garfield. One large truck finally stopped in the lane closest to the center line but the pedestrians were afraid to cross at that point because they didn't know whether cars in the other lane would stop or not. I don't know what can be done to increase driver education and driver compliance. Maybe if law enforcement units happen to be near these two pedestrian crosswalks, they can keep an eye out for drivers who don't stop for pedestrians that trigger the flashing lights. ???