Email
PrintConcerned about Fifth Street West safety
Editor, Index-Tribune:
I am writing about the recent tragic fatality near the Safeway. It is a double tragedy; first for the victim and second for the driver, who, failing to heed that he was not to drive after having his license restricted, now has to live with his causing the death of another person.
When I am walking, I personally will not cross the street at the Safeway pedestrian crossing, or even at the Sassarini crossing, unless the guards are there. It is too dangerous. Too many drivers do not know what the flashing lights mean, even if they do see them.
This whole Safeway area is a traffic nightmare for drivers as well. Many times, while getting ready to turn right into the Safeway lot from Fifth Street West, someone comes zooming up the bike/bus stop lane to turn, instead of waiting until the break in the heavy white line. Then there are two of us trying to turn right into the same driveway entrance at the same time.
I have been concerned for same time that a pedestrian might get hit in this way, by someone whose vision was blocked by the vehicle on the left, waiting to make a legal right turn while waiting for a pedestrian. It is my understanding that a heavy white line is not to be driven across until there is a break or breaks in the line.
I no longer turn right into Safeway from Fifth Street West. Instead, I go around the corner to West Napa Street and turn into the entrance from here. Even in this case, there is danger of being hit on the right from someone driving in the bike lane, or not turning into the second Safeway entrance, but continuing on ahead.
Nearby there are two mobile home parks catering mainly to seniors, and a senior retirement home within two blocks or so of Safeway. There are lots of us out and about in this area. We are very concerned for our safety.
I don’t have the answer to this, but I think this area needs to be re-evaluated by the Sonoma Police Department and the Traffic Safety Committee.
Rosemary P. U’Ren
Sonoma
Please note: Your full name will be published with your comment.
I agree with Rosemary U'Ren. I've lived in Sonoma for 24 years and have seen drivers go around vehicles stopped at the Safeway crosswalk allowing pedestrians to cross. A few days ago I stopped at that crosswalk, before completing my turn into Safeway, to allow a family group to cross. A white sedan coming up from behind me swerved around me and passed on the left without slowing. The driver would have mowed the whole family down but they hesitated in front of my car to peek around to see if it was safe to complete their crossing. It was a heart stopping moment when I thought the family might get hit. The lights were flashing at the crossing and are very visible even from blocks away. How to get drivers to slow down? Is it worth taking a life to gain a second?