FOR PEDESTRIANS and cyclists, keeping safe in Red Bank can be a challenge.
Two years ago in July, Sara Rothfuss, who lives and works in Red Bank, was on her way back to work during her lunch break, crossing West Front Street where it intersects with Broad Street, and was struck in the crosswalk by a pickup truck.
“I had the green arrow to walk and he had the arrow to turn left,” she said. “I just saw the truck was coming at me, and I put my hands out as if to stop it … I don’t know how he didn’t see me.”
The truck sent Rothfuss sprawling to the ground but she was able to get up on her own. When the ambulance came, she was put on a stretcher and taken to Riverview Medical Center for an examination and X-rays of her knee. She was later released, scraped up and bruised. “Luckily, I didn’t have any horrible injuries,” she said.
Now Rothfuss says she looks at traffic a little differently – as a pedestrian and as a driver. “I’m more aware of drivers when I’m crossing the streets,” she says. “I’m cautious.”
Both Rothfuss and the driver had the right of way, with signs prompting “walk” and a green left arrow, a traffic signal called “protection/permissive” to keep traffic flowing: a posted sign advises motorists to yield to pedestrians.
Coincidentally it was the same crosswalk where another woman, a Red Bank psychologist– who prefers not to be identified under the advice of her attorney– was struck by a car.
“I was told by one of my physicians, that like 190 people get hit in same spot” including fatalities, she said.
When she was struck by an elderly driver making that same left turn onto West Front Street from Broad, she said: “I did not see the car coming … I couldn’t have told you what color the car was. I was airborne.”
She had a traumatically dislocated knee, bruises and scrapes, “a jolt to my spine and neck and lower back and a whole constellation of things.” After a year of physical therapy, and being warned that she was at risk for a lifetime of knee problems,
“It took about a year before I could be more physically active. It was a big upheaval. She realizes that the situation could have been worse. “I feel fortunate that my daughter wasn’t walking with me. I feel fortunate that the car was not going faster.”
Nowadays the psychologist, who knows what an experience like this can do to someone’s psyche, is left a little unnerved.
“Mentally, it scares you,” she said of the experience. There’s a lot of trust between the driver and pedestrian. An experience like this “really makes you hesitate; and walking around that particular area, makes you more anxious.”
The Board of Chosen Freeholders is now studying that intersection at the request of the borough officials as part of the Two River Times Task Force.
Stephanie Reynolds, D.O., a medical director at Riverview Medical Center, says pedestrian accidents have become more and more prevalent in Red Bank and surrounding towns. “It’s an increasing problem during the pedestrian months – any time from April to October – when people are out walking around, not paying attention.”
Distracted drivers – and pedestrians – are causing walkers, runners and cyclists to end up in emergency rooms. “The injuries we see are lower limbs, classic bumper-to-the-knee, the lower leg, the road rash you get from sliding across the pavement on arms, hips and leg. “And head injuries can be horrific if they get hit with a force,” she said. “Head injuries can be devastating.”
But mostly in Red Bank, she said, “We see low-speed accidents, people crossing Broad Street and Front Street. Or our parking lots are another treacherous spot. When you’re in any shopping district – whether it’s Red Bank, Little Silver, Fair Haven – drivers are looking for parking spots and not looking for pedestrians.”
And on the streets, blame goes both ways, Reynolds said. “The cars are blasting through the yellow/red, accelerating. The pedestrians have their heads down on their phone, texting while walking, they’re not paying attention.” She said that she often sees kids, especially middle and high school students when they come out of school – where they have been prohibited from using their cellphones.
“So the first thing they’re doing is on their phone,” heads down and distracted while crossing the street. “People are very myopic; egocentric, they’re self absorbed and not aware of dangers around them. And kids believe they’re invincible.”
The answer, according to Reynolds, is awareness and education at an early age. “Education, education. Tell the kids to look before you cross … watch for cars – they’re bigger than they are,” she said. “Having the law on your side doesn’t push the wheelchair.” Fines for both wayward drivers and pedestrians could also help, she said.
“A $200 fine, or a $50 fine, given to someone jaywalking will save lives.” “If you get hit by a car it’s life-changing,” said Reynolds.
— By Judy O’Gorman Alvarez
