Pedestrian safety is an issue around campus and UMW should support greater police presence to monitor traffic

by ALEXA DELACONCEPCION

Staff Writer

Safety and well-being are two valuable assets UMW is committed to. Fredericksburg seems to be dedicated to these principles as well. However, pedestrian safety is an issue that needs to be further addressed by both the university and the city. Combined efforts between campus and city law enforcement will nearly guarantee some degree of change in the traffic on William Street.  

According to UMW’s webpage on Police and Public Safety, in addition to law enforcement, the university provides the resources, personnel and procedures to proactively promote safety on campus. Despite this, it remains extremely difficult and costly to enforce security regulations around campus. The installation of red-light cameras costs more than $100,000, with the process of installing them being lengthy, requiring an engineering safety analysis to be conducted before the Virginia Department of Transportation and the district administrator can approve. Speeding and red-light running has become a devastatingly common occurrence near campus. 

I am not the first student to argue that this issue needs to be resolved. In 2021, The Weekly Ringer published an opinion article arguing in favor of red-light cameras around Fredericksburg. I observe the worst instances of the aforementioned issues at the intersection of William Street. and College Avenue, which I cross daily to get from the UMW Apartments to the main campus.

“I have seen the occasional car run a red light going north or south on William St.,” Case Manager for Student Life Betsy Southern said. “I typically walk to work and I cross at the crosswalk at Sunken Rd. and William St. The speeding does make me nervous and I do at times feel unsafe crossing the road.”

I live in the UMW Apartments facing William Street and cross this intersection daily. During the first week of classes, I witnessed numerous drivers speed through the light well after it turned red, and even sometimes shortly after the crosswalk signal lit up. One day, I attempted to cross the sidewalk on the intersection of William Street and Sunken Road, to nearly be hit mid-crossing by a grown man speeding past the flashing lights of the crosswalk. 

“You never know if someone will be driving and hit me or someone crossing the street,” junior geography major Noah Harmon said. “I have seen many people speeding and it is dangerous and startles me.”

While the issue may primarily seem to occur going northbound, or downhill, I have seen plenty of cars coming south from Downtown Fredericksburg that press on the gas in an attempt to beat the light, only to harshly run through the red light long after it changed.

While the university has not reported any instances of cars hitting pedestrians, it is only a matter of time before someone becomes the first victim. With the current rate of speeding, I would argue that the likelihood of a student getting hit by a car is relatively high. Some students grow impatient waiting at the crosswalk and run across at their own discretion. The combination of speed violators and jaywalkers greatly increases the likelihood of an accident occurring.

Sophomore psychology major McKinley Dillon explains how she has seen more cars speed down William Street than she has any area surrounding campus. 

“It’s crazy how fast some cars go in an area with such high foot traffic,” she said. “My friend was T-boned in that area.”

Signage as a potential solution is affordable and effective. As a starting measure, news signs posted about the strict enforcement and punishment of speed violations may strongly discourage drivers from continuing to drive recklessly. Per Virginia law, reckless driving is categorized as, “Irrespective of the maximum speeds permitted by law, any person who drives a vehicle on any highway recklessly or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person shall be guilty of reckless driving.” Depending on how effective this method ends up being, further measures such as a red-light or speeding camera at that intersection might be necessary. 

“I hope that if there’s more signage and a camera that people will get the reminder to slow down,” Dillon said.

Although car accidents are relatively uncommon, this does not mean there should be a lack of preventative measures. Considering that the university does not have the authority to do anything about local drivers disrupting student pedestrians, the administration should talk to the UMW Police Department about working with the City of Fredericksburg to implement measures that punish violators. To lower the rate of people speeding on William Street. First-time violators may start with a $50 ticket. However, repeated offenses should then be subject to further punishment such as community service, or even jail time.

Mere police presence may even be enough to get people to put their foot on the brake going north down William Street. With increased surveillance, officers would not only personally ticket violators, but their presence might also caution drivers to follow the speed limit.

“I think anything that keeps people safer is good, as long as it’s not excessive, ” Dillon said. “Since so many people are walking in that area, people need to be safer.”

Whether it be students, faculty or civilians strolling along campus, no pedestrians are truly safe when crossing. The safety of the UMW community is crucial to a positive environment in which everyone may thrive. Both the city and the university should address and implement preventative measures, specifically at the intersection of William Street and College Avenue, to ensure the safety of residents. Frequent and active police presence would be an efficient way to address reckless driving at that spot– not just north, at the bottom of the hill by the apartments, but at the top of the hill, right by the light, as well.