Stop Running Over Pedestrians

Along with just about every resident of this city I do get more than a little annoyed at all of the suburban drivers who are unaware of the fact that a green light does not give them license to make a right turn into a group of pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk. Sure local drivers can be very aggressive, but unlike the suburbanites they're at least aware of the concept of a pedestrian.

The number of people killed on U.S. roadways in 2005 climbed to the highest level in 15 years, an increase tied to rising deaths among motorcyclists and pedestrians, the federal government reported yesterday.

A total of 43,443 people died in traffic accidents last year, up 1.4 percent from the previous year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The agency said the motorcycle death toll rose for the eighth consecutive year. Last year, 4,553 motorcyclists died on the roadways, up 13 percent from the previous year. The agency said 4,881 pedestrians were killed last year, up 4.4 percent.