By Sam Leigh

Special to the Journal

Ever been a pedestrian and look up at someone you think to be an “idiot” driver in your path that doesn’t even know you are there?

Ever been the driver looking at a pedestrian, clearly an “idiot,” crossing the roadway without watching for you?

As they say, “been there, done that,” and every time I get behind the wheel as a driving instructor, I think about how no one is immune to a pedestrian’s aimless wanderings, or immune to driver error.

I think about how there are drivers among us who dedicate themselves to protecting our lives; policemen, firemen, doctors, but even they can find themselves bumper to bones with a pedestrian. I think about how most collisions and pedestrian contacts are, well, preventable.

I think about all the times I have had to use my instructor brake or my evasive steering intervention while a student driver is behind the wheel. I think about how every pedestrian is someone’s mother, father, sister or brother.

I think about it happening to me, and then I think about writing a letter to my community in hope to bring undistracted awareness and complete focus back to both drivers and to pedestrians.

Every vehicle pedestrian collision, whether resulting in only mere bumps and bruises… all can take a devastating emotional toll and result in economic downfall. Pedestrian and bicycle safety are very important to us all and to facilitate better, smoother, pedestrian mobility and safety throughout the town and in this community, I suggest certain efforts be made to provide more advanced engineering, law enforcement and proper guidance to pedestrians and drivers alike.

Washington state has laws and guidance pertaining to pedestrians, aren’t they the same guidelines for Friday Harbor? Do we have different guidelines in San Juan County? I think not.

I teach those laws to new drivers for accountability: “you are now accountable for what you know,” but every day we witness violations and disregard for them.

Let’s pick on us drivers first.

I remember a parent asking why am I teaching her teen to stop at the thick white line before the crosswalk… “Um, you mean the stop line?” Painted or not, there is a crosswalk at every corner crossing an intersection and a stop line before that, a traffic safety control device. In fact, whether present or not, the stop itself is actually for pedestrians first and then vehicles. Or to put another way, the crosswalk is before the road.

Keeping in mind the sign does not say “slow down,” it says STOP! Many of us drivers may need to create new muscle memory.

For us pedestrians, whatever happened to looking both ways before crossing the road? Or making eye contact with a driver to suggest the right of way is not something to take, but to give? And you “J-walkers,” I wouldn’t say you deserve it, but just because you can see a vehicle doesn’t mean the driver sees you. Here is my plea to my community:

• Drivers, scan or “clear” the approaching intersection before arriving at it

• If no sidewalk is present, walk on the left shoulder facing oncoming traffic. If walking near or after dark, wear bright or reflective clothing, or carry a flash light. Drivers may only see dark clothing from as little as 50 feet, white clothing is visible up to 180 feet; reflective clothing up to 500.

• Watch for children crossing the street by themselves. Teach your children to never walk into the road from between parked vehicles.

• If you desire to use a crosswalk, be predictable by standing by a curb (it allows pedestrians better visibility as well).

• Drivers, communicate to a pedestrian with a wave and a smile, allowing them to cross safely.

• It is illegal for drivers to pass other vehicles stopped at crosswalks for a pedestrian; however, not all drivers obey traffic laws.

— Editor’s note: Sam Leigh is owner of Right of Way Driving School and Friday Harbor resident since 1997. Contact her at 360-298-4399 or drive@rightofwaydrivingschool.com