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As the parent of a child who will cross Savannah Road daily this school year, and as an emergency medicine physician, I am begging the city of Lewes to institute traffic-calming measures on Savannah Road as soon as possible.
Despite increased enforcement by Lewes Police Department, drivers routinely fly down Savannah Road well in excess of the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour. Right of way for pedestrians in crosswalks is not recognized. We have even witnessed drivers failing to obey the Lewes Police Department crossing guard. On the rare occasion that a motorist stops for someone to cross the street, they risk being rear-ended by the tailgating driver behind them.
The population of Lewes is growing rapidly. If we want to maintain livability, we must do more to encourage pedestrian and cyclist transportation. Many children will be within biking distance of the new middle school, but no parent will allow their child to bike to school unless they are certain it can be done safely.
There are evidence-based practices for keeping communities walkable and improving safety on major roads. Speed cushions on either end of the school zone, which are spaced to allow emergency vehicles to freely pass, would be one affordable measure that would quickly change driver behavior. Numerous cities both within the U.S. and around the world utilize speed pillows as a method of traffic calming. Elevated crosswalks with bump outs and bollards would be a more costly addition that would also improve safety.
As always, there will be concerns about cost and complaints from motorists who drive into Lewes, but the cost of a child struck by a car is not quantifiable. Let's act before this happens.
Dr. Emily Sluzas
Lewes
