Crossing Easterday

By John Petkus



As the roads get icy and the wind howls around campus, snow begins to mount on the roadways and mixes with the salt and water forming everyones favorite walking and driving surface known by several names: slush, sludge, muck, aww gross, and other not so savory nomenclature.   This makes driving difficult and the crossing of roadways a potential risk for all of those students and faculty brave enough to face the elements to reach the Norris Center.    These courageous souls in pursuit of exercise, relaxation, and entertainment face not only the atmospheric hazards of the Upper Peninsula, but also from the cars and trucks that careen by at all speeds.   
As well as speaking with the city to try to see what could be done to increase the safety of those crossing Easterday, we decided to give you all some fundamentals in the art of street crossing.   Call it Street Crossing 101 or something, and although it wont go toward you GPA, it might prevent a suspension from school due to injuries.   

The very first thing you do when you are going to cross the street is you stop.   Yes stop at the edge of the sidewalk and wait for half a second to see what is happening.   This is closely followed by looking left and right to see if any vehicles are coming toward you from either direction.   If there are some, playing who wants to be a road pie, and running at top speed across the road, is not a good idea.   Instead wait for them to go by when the coast is clear, cross the street. 

If you happen to be one of those fortunate individuals who have the added benefit of a street light where you are crossing, it is always best to look at it so as to know what color the light is.  If you come to an intersection and a red hand is showing on the sign, you must wait for the light to change before you can cross the street.   If a flashing hand appears on the sign in front of you it means caution, you need to ensure that no cars are coming and be careful crossing as the lights are about to change.   Finally, if you see a man walking, it is probably safe to cross as that is what the sign means.   It is still a good idea, however, to check both lanes to be absolutely sure.   

Most of us learned this simple technique while still in our diapers but still it cannot be stressed enough that your safety crossing roads depends largely on your willingness to stop, look, and listen when it comes to road safety.   

    
Student Services and Concerns Committee 
concerns@lssu.edu

