News-Press Editorial: We must all share the road

Like one-two punches, the horrible news was reported: On Wednesday afternoon and then again on Thursday night, three Glendale pedestrians, all women, and two of them in their 70s, were the victims of hit-and-run accidents. As of this writing, one of those women is in grave condition and may not survive; another suffered head trauma, broken bones and internal injuries.

Two weeks ago, we lost an 88-year-old woman who was also on foot when she was struck by a vehicle. Her death marked the third pedestrian-involved fatality in Glendale this year. How many more will there be?

We don’t know why the 88-year-old stepped out between cars and into traffic. In that case, the driver stopped and cooperated with investigators. But in the incidents that took place this week, the drivers of those vehicles were careless at best and certainly cowardly, since they fled after knocking down their victims.

In August, when the latest list of cities with the worst drivers was released by Allstate Insurance Co. and Glendale’s name was prominent on that wall of shame, we learned from city spokesman Tom Lorenz that police have stepped up traffic enforcement and received nearly $250,000 in traffic safety grants this year to “educate and force change in driver habits.”

We can’t just sit back to wait and see how that educational effort pans out. We must all insist that the road is shared by pedestrians and drivers — cyclists as well as those behind the wheel of motorized vehicles. There is no room for entitled, aggressive or distracted behavior on our streets. Pedestrians: Remain alert and very cautious, as you are most vulnerable. Drivers: Show some regard for others’ well-being.