Police need to crack down on drivers who ignore crosswalks in New Bedford

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The majority of New Bedford drivers ignore crosswalks and the New Bedford police should crack down on these reckless drivers – something that could easily generate $20,000 a week.

Earlier this week I was walking to the New Bedford City Hall and needed to cross North 6th Street to get there. While waiting at a crosswalk, several cars ignored me and blasted past the crosswalk. Finally, one vehicle stopped, but as I was crossing the driver behind the stopped car decided to pass on the left missing me by a few feet. A second car decided to follow but had to slam on the brakes as I was now visible on the crosswalk. This is a typical experience for me with crosswalks in New Bedford, not the exception.

A few years ago my brother was hit by a car on a crosswalk in downtown New Bedford. The driver yelled out “You’re lucky I even bothered to stop.” Luckily, it wasn’t a serious accident and he didn’t need medical attention, but it shows the mentality of some of the drivers on the road. Someone I knew was seriously injured and his companion killed in 2011 while using a crosswalk in Fairhaven. It’s time for the New Bedford police to act before someone is killed in New Bedford.

The penalty in Massachusetts for ignoring a crosswalk is up to $200. New Bedford police would easily catch 100 violators a week generating $20,000 in fines and likely removing some of the most dangerous drivers from New Bedford streets. Word would get out and New Bedford would be a safer place to walk, especially if the police enforced crosswalks on a monthly basis. Crosswalk enforcement would also generate a ton of revenue, saving the taxpayers some money.

About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

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2 comments

  1. Maybe people in crosswalks should learn how to press the button, then “wait” to cross. Bcuz when people cross on my green light, i keep driving.

  2. If the NBPD followed the traffic laws themselves just then they might actually enforce them and yes it would rail in some money in fines as well.

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