Beschreibung
The town has put up signs in crosswalks saying the fine is $200 for failure to yield, but there is no enforcement and many drivers do not stop even when pedestrians are in the crosswalks. This morning I was crossing N Main at North with southbound traffic stopped and a van from the Middlesex County Courts Community Service program (license M518) was traveling northbound at a rate of speed the RMV would not classify as reasonable and proper. He did slam on his brakes to let me cross, but as soon as I was clear he stomped on the gas and sped off while 2 women were crossing the southbound side about to enter the northbound side. At the same intersection last week, a van from JECORP stopped and let me cross N Main, but he drove in front of me while crossing North. If he has a dent in the side I will neither confirm nor deny that I swung the book I was carrying. The crosswalks are clearly marked, there are signs warning of penalties, and there are people crossing at each one trying to get to the commuter rail station; but there is no enforcement and therefore no credible threat by these signs. Writing a couple of tickets once in a while might make drivers think twice (or maybe even once) about how to treat pedestrians in a crosswalk.
26 Kommentierens
Webmaster (Registrierter Benutzer)
CharlieGirl (Registrierter Benutzer)
Alan (Registrierter Benutzer)
I agree that this is an issue. I take the commuter rail so I cross these crosswalks daily. People drive very fast through the Town Center and rarely stop for people in crosswalks. This could be a good source of income for the town as well. I rarely see Natick PD pulling people over for any traffic violations in the Town Center area (and I even see them making illegal lefts off of Pond St).
This should also be enforced at the Pond St crosswalk. I personally have had to jump out of the way of vehicles there before.
Tom Lynch (Registrierter Benutzer)
Randy (Registrierter Benutzer)
I would like to see the speed reduce though the center of town. From the North side of the Main Street bridge all the way down through to Cottage Street. I think the speed should be reduced to 20 or 25 miles an hour.
I will also say that the pedestrians are just as bad as the drivers. The pedestrians don’t stop and wait at the entrance to the crosswalk they just go straight off the sidewalk into the crosswalk expecting cars to slam on their brakes for them. People should stop at the entrance to the crosswalk and wait for the cars to yield to them.
Randy Johnson (Registrierter Benutzer)
Car Guy (Registrierter Benutzer)
Tom Lynch (Registrierter Benutzer)
Randy Johnson (Registrierter Benutzer)
Geschlossen Webmaster (Registrierter Benutzer)
Reopened Alan (Registrierter Benutzer)
I have personally visited the police on several occasions, and even called the PD and left a voicemail to discuss these issues. I have had to literally dive out of the way of a car before, yet reporting this to the police has yielded nothing. I was told a car would sit there around rush hour to watch out for this issue at Pond Street, but that hasn't happened. I have covered myself in reflective materials just to try to be safe, but at least a few times a week it is a problem.
Someone FROM THE TOWN needs to bring these concerns to the PD. Even the PD doesn't follow the laws correctly at Pond and Main. I've seen countless police vehicles make illegal left turns into right hand lands at that intersection, which only increases the danger of the intersection. We, as citizens, have reported this and nothing has been done. Does someone need to be struck by a vehicle and injured before something happens?
This is so bad we are considering leaving Natick as it is very clear that this issue is of no concern whatsoever.
Alan (Registrierter Benutzer)
Geschlossen Webmaster (Registrierter Benutzer)
Alan (Registrierter Benutzer)
First, since I don't only use this platform to discuss issues with the town, do not assume that my comments here in any way represent what I have tried to do to deal with this.
I have left voicemails to the Chief and never heard anything back (in fact, NPD has also pointed me to someone ELSE that they claim is responsible for this). I have called the police after a person almost hit me then came back to threaten me for crossing a street. I walked down to the police station with my elbows and knees scraped open from dodging a car at Pond and Main.
At this point, I request that the Chief be directed to the host of comments on this site regarding this issue. I HAVE tried to contact the correct people, and have gotten nowhere. I have a record I have kept of all of these things since, on more than one occasion, I was nearly struck by a vehicle.
Forward this whole chain (and every single other) to the Chief of NPD. Or, if you prefer, I can (AGAIN) report all of this to him as well as send a link to every. single. issue. that has been posted on here and summarily ignored.
Frankly I am appalled with how little the town cares about the safety of its citizens when they are only trying to get to the commuter rail to work.
Reopened Alan (Registrierter Benutzer)
Webmaster (Registrierter Benutzer)
Randy Johnson (Registrierter Benutzer)
Alan (Registrierter Benutzer)
Tom Lynch (Registrierter Benutzer)
A couple of observations....
For the webmaster, if this is handled by someone else, why didn't you say that in October when the issue was opened?
The mobile sign in front of the police station warns of upcoming sidewalks and a $200 fine, but the one in front of Stone's does not. There is a saying that it is only illegal if you get caught. Since the police have no intention of catching anyone, this is not a credible threat.
Webmaster (Registrierter Benutzer)
Car Guy (Registrierter Benutzer)
Alan (Registrierter Benutzer)
I emailed the Chief of Police last week and haven't heard a thing. I've even linked these issues and have heard nothing.
I've personally walked down to the NPD station with cut knees and elbows after dodging a car and, despite having the license plate of the vehicle, was told nothing could be done.
I'm currently using a spare phone to record my walks to/from the commuter rail station.
Geschlossen Public Works Director (Verifizierter Beamter)
Reopened Randy Johnson (Registrierter Benutzer)
Geschlossen Public Works Director (Verifizierter Beamter)
Car Guy (Registrierter Benutzer)