My family and I appreciate all the efforts by local authorities to make crossing Route 1 safer in Dewey Beach.
On May 29, around noon, I was almost killed by a driver who was illegally traveling southbound in the bike/turn lane to avoid traffic that had slowed for the lights approaching Dewey.
I was crossing near Fifer’s over to Dodd Avenue. The crossing lights were on and I had made it across the two northbound lanes and then the two southbound lanes. Fortunately, I peeked around the SUV blocking the view to the turn/bike lane when a car came whizzing by. The driver was using the bike/turn lane as his own personal express lane, while also speeding and failing to stop for the crosswalk lights. They didn’t turn for two more blocks.
While the lighted crosswalks are an improvement, they can also create a false sense of security.
When crossing, please don’t trust any car until it is fully stopped, watch each lane, and don’t assume that cars that are slowing will come to a full stop. I’ve seen cars slow only to glide through the crosswalk with the driver staring at their phone.
My message is: you can’t be too careful. There are a lot of young, distracted, impatient and/or impaired drivers out there. I also think fines and penalties for reckless driving should be increased substantially.
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