With students living on and off campus, it’s not uncommon to see them driving around, bustling to classes with headphones blaring. Although it may make you feel like Captain America, invincible and superior, you’re just as vulnerable as anyone else.
Information posted by the Idaho Department of Transportation states that there have been over 114 fatalities on Idaho’s roads this year. 2024 has been recorded to be a peak for deaths due to vehicular-related accidents. In 2023, 31 pedestrians in Idaho were killed in traffic accidents, nearly doubling the amount since 2022.
Although not unfamiliar, students who have their licenses often think, “That would never happen to me.”
So, take a moment to answer these questions. Do you stop to think before you bolt across the road? Is it a passing thought that you might not make it across as a pedestrian? Put yourself behind the wheel for a moment. Are you aware of the moving obstacles, the ones you label as your peers? If your answers were anything similar to “No” or “Not really, but I always look!”
Look left and right as you cross the street. Understand the consequences of going out on a bike without reflective gear at night. Wear your helmet, save your life. Even though this sounds like your parents, it’s undoubtedly true. They’re onto something when they nag you about those things. It only takes one mistake to create an accident; you never know when that may happen.
Stay safe, not sorry, and value your own and your campus’s safety by staying alert when traveling. Whether walking, cycling, or driving, find ways to reduce danger on campus by heeding speed limits and fundamental driving regulations. As a driver, keep your eyes peeled for pedestrians. As a pedestrian, lead with a cautious foot. Reduce scares and upsets across campus when you’re heading to class. Give the university a better reputation when it comes to campus safety.