Dear Editor,
I wish to share my recent experiences of dangerous driving at marked crosswalks in Sylvan Lake.
Three times this month, in Sylvan Lake, I’ve stopped for a pedestrian at a marked crosswalk, only to have the driver behind me change into the right lane with no intention of stopping. Twice, the pedestrian was aware enough to not begin crossing the street or stop where they were in the intersection to wait for the vehicle to speed through.
The third and most recent incident, however, was even scarier. I was driving to work on Monday, October 1st, heading east on 47 Avenue. I stopped at 52 Street for a kid waiting to cross at a marked crosswalk. As the kid began to enter the crosswalk, in my rearview mirror, I noticed a Chrysler 300 which did not look like it was going to stop. At first I thought it was going to rear-end my vehicle, but instead, the driver veered to the right lane to pass me where he was likely to hit this kid who continued to cross. In the end, the Chrysler stopped just in time, right before the crosswalk, then immediately sped up and drove away.
This incident happened at 8:05 a.m. on a Monday when Sylvan is full of school-aged children heading to school.
We’ve all caught ourselves doing dumb things while driving, and we all make mistakes. However, I really hope this letter motivates all drivers to be careful on our daily commutes and take extra care, especially before and after school and at marked crosswalks. In a small, family-oriented town like Sylvan Lake, parents shouldn’t have to worry about their kids walking to school in the morning.
Cindy Brooks,
Sylvan Lake