Last Friday a man and a woman were hit by a car while crossing the street in Five Points. The woman sustained a serious leg injury and is still in the hospital.
Of course, any accidents are a cause for alarm, but the fact that this was the second pedestrian accident this year not just in Five Points, but at that same intersection (Harden and Greene), borders on ridiculous.
Options are being discussed on how to rectify what we see as a dangerous problem in the popular downtown bar district, including blocking off a section of Harden Street and implementing traffic-related safety measures like different light times, rumble strips and flashing signs.
While many of these options are possible, and some of them even useful, an important thing for patrons and officials of the district to realize is that extra traffic provisions shouldn't be necessary. The measures already in place — crosswalks and stop lights — under normal circumstances and used lawfully should be plenty to protect the physical well-being of anyone in the area. Those who drive and even walk in the bar district have to take responsibility for their actions and follow safety guidelines that are already set forth, instead of forcing more expensive changes that could potentially harm businesses in the area.
While these proposals may help to decline and slow traffic in Five Points, no flashing light can replace good old common sense.