Editor, the Auburn Plainsman
The large number of nighttime car/pedestrian accidents in Auburn leads me to propose an obvious solution:
Anyone studying any of the graphic arts or architecture learns in his freshman year the power of value: that is, lights and darks.
In other words, wearing black at night renders a pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist, or any vehicle almost invisible.
DON’T DO IT!
WEAR WHITE AT NIGHT!
It rhymes, so you can remember it.
Don’t wear black helmets or leathers, even shiny ones, if you want to be seen and protected.
Professor Clark Lundell, head of industrial design, told of his Navy years when lots of sailors were hit by cars at night when their uniforms were all navy blue.
White caps helped, but the more white the better, unless it snows.
Remember: WHITE AT NIGHT!
Or you may wind up decorating the front of a truck.
Nicholas D. Davis
Emeritus Professor of Architecture
You do that.
I make sure the least amount of traffic is coming before I cross. I don't trust the dumbass drivers around here anymore.
Also, stopping for pedestrians that have the right to walk (that is, are following the above rules), and maybe slowing down when you come to a crosswalk (when appropriate, with the signal indicating pedestrians can cross)so that if there are pedestrians you at least have a chance of stoping.
Then again, we could blame it on dark clothing.
What about get off the freakin cell phone and look both ways before crossing?
Wouldn't that help too.