LAS VEGAS (FOX5) —63% of pedestrian deaths happen where there is no crosswalk, according to Nevada Traffic Safety crash numbers.
Repeated crossings outside the crosswalk
This week on Flamingo, just east of Maryland Parkway, FOX5 saw people crossing the road one at a time, two at a time, and three at a time, well outside of any marked crosswalk.
One man was seen trapped between traffic on the median, waiting for fast-moving traffic on both sides of him to pass, so he could get across the street.
Erin Breen, with PedSafe Vegas at the Transportation Research Center at UNLV, said the location has been known as a problem spot for decades.
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“This was the first place we’ve called, a place that people cross the street, the seven-lane dash to death. And this has been going on for 30 years,” Breen said.
People at the location cross there to save time rather than walking to the end of the block to use a marked crosswalk. Rocky Brown said, “I’m not going to go all the way to the corner. It’s just too [expletive] far.”
One man’s routine
Rocky Brown said he has crossed at the location many times because he has problems with his legs. He admitted it’s dangerous. But said he is careful when crossing.
“Because I’m not going to move if there’s a car within 100 feet of me,” he said.
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He said he will not cross if cars are close together and said this about people who do.
“You’re a moron. And you deserve to get hit.”
The location draws foot traffic in part because people head to the Clark County Library for food and shelter.
Calls for a lighted crosswalk
Brown said someone should install a lighted crosswalk at the location.
“Simple solutions to obvious problems. One of those lights right here would be wonderful,” Brown said.
“It’s not a cheap fix. It’s an expensive fix. But when you saw how many people continually cross the street right here, you have to realize if that many people are risking their lives to cross the street, why aren’t we helping them do it in a safer fashion,” Breen said.
Brown said he will continue to cross at the location.
NDOT response
FOX5 reached out to the Nevada Department of Transportation about the crosswalk idea.
Officials said they would look into it further but said mid-block crosswalks can pose other safety issues when drivers are not expecting someone to be in the street.
NDOT strongly advises against jaywalking, which it says is dangerous and illegal.
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