Pedestrian Safety

I must admit to being confused. The reason for my state of mind is the veil of secrecy that surrounds the location of pedestrian crosswalks in Los Angeles.

During daylight hours, these much-ignored areas are inadequately marked by yellowish paint strips on the surface of the road.

At the best of times, these markings are not really apparent until a driver is almost on top of them. The signs (that indicate a crossing) at the side of the road have a great tendency to blend into all the brightly colored and well-lit (and expensive) billboards that in most places in Los Angles grow out of the ground like a forest. These billboards can be seen for a considerable distance; maybe the advertisers could be of help with the problem.

I have lived here for 10 years, after having come from Europe. I am not one of those people who claim that everything where I come from is better than here.

But may I be so bold to say that almost everywhere in Europe, pedestrian crosswalks are painted and lit in such a way as to make it possible for drivers to be left in little doubt that they are approaching an area that the pedestrian has the right of way and under all conditions (day and night) can be seen.

I know that here in L. A., it is dicing with death to ask that pedestrians have some rights to safety over the cars, but could someone in local government take their courage in their hands and bestow a little more care to those who have the unfortunate task of crossing the road from one side to the other?

GERRY LIVELY

North Hollywood