Today, Sunday, August 17, is World Pedestrian Day .
Did you know there's a World Pedestrian Day? I admit my ignorance; I didn't. I've spent my whole life on foot and I was unaware that pedestrians had a day to protest, and more importantly, to demand that the authorities enforce traffic regulations and impose consequences on drivers of two-wheeled vehicles: "the killers."
In my case, I can attest that my life has been in danger. I mean, I almost unwittingly passed away because of three reckless drivers going the wrong way on an avenue as convoluted as 27 de Febrero.
That and more. Today, Sunday, August 17th, is World Pedestrian Day . Although not officially sanctioned by any one entity, the World Health Organization (WHO ) and other road safety organizations have promoted this day to remind us that pedestrians are not to be killed or run over in the streets , that their vulnerability must be respected, and that their safety on the world's roads must be guaranteed . This includes promoting inclusion by providing ramps at intersections so that people with disabilities can cross safely and with peace of mind.
The saying that " pedestrians aren't people " is a Dominican expression, often humorous, that minimizes, ridicules, and excludes ordinary human beings on the streets of the world. At this point, it's an expression that no longer resonates with organizations and individuals who fight for the right of all people to be respected in their physical and even emotional integrity, whether they are pedestrians or, in short, human beings regardless of sex, race, or social status.
I don't know if the expression "pedestrians are not people" is as popular and colloquial in other countries in the region.
For Dominican pedestrians, crossing the street requires greater concentration, sharp reflexes, and vigilance, all while avoiding the recklessness of the main cause of traffic accidents in the Dominican Republic: the "killers."
Back to World Pedestrian Day. This date commemorates the importance of pedestrians in urban mobility and educates about road safety and the rights of those who travel on foot.
The choice of date commemorates the first recorded fatal traffic accident involving a pedestrian , which occurred in London in 1897.
Sadly, we owe the day to 44-year-old Bridget Driscoll, who was hit by a car maneuvering in the Crystal Palace area of the English capital.
The incident shocked municipal authorities and citizens at the time to the point that World Pedestrian Day was declared in his memory, to raise awareness about road safety, according to the Global magazine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
In Greater Santo Domingo and other cities and towns in the country, the "muertoristas" (about three million motorcycles circulate in the country according to the General Directorate of Internal Taxes) lack the minimum road education and respect for the most basic traffic laws.
We suffer from a literal jungle of killers behind the wheel. Not to mention the cars, vans, and trucks that think every alley—and I mean alleys—is a Formula 1 racetrack.
Dominican citizens and authorities should seize this day—and I would say the rest of our lives—to promote safer and more inclusive cities for pedestrians . This requires adequate infrastructure such as pedestrian crossings and functional, intelligent traffic lights , road safety education campaigns, and respect for pedestrian rights. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. And let's eradicate the ignominious notion that "pedestrians aren't people." We are, and proudly so, and good citizens most of the time. We must demand respect from authorities and drivers of all types of motorized vehicles.
