"Pedestrians have got to make sure vehicles see them before they step into a crosswalk,"

This would seem to be common sense. Yes, if in a cross-walk with the light in their favior, the pedestrian has the right-of-way. But, I always look to around to see what sdrivers are doing. All too often, I've had to jump out of the way from non-attentive drivers.

Also, can we please ask pedestrians who cross after dark to either wear reflective clothing or NOT cross in front of cars that are close to the intersection? It can be difficult to see pedestrians after dark who are wearing dark clothing, particularly on rainy nights. To put ALL of the onus on the driver just isn't fair. Of course drivers should be vigilant and yield, but if it is dark and rainy, and someone in a dark coat and dark shoes and dark hair steps right in front of my car, it can be difficult to stop in time. "Yield to pedestrian in crosswalk" shouldn't equate to "Pedestrians May Leave Common Sense At Home."

In response to B@B and RidgewoodGuy11, Amen, pedestrians need to look before they dart out into the street!!!!

Really, you are blaming the 75 year old victim who was already in the crosswalk? What about the driver, Lichuan Chu , who was waiting to make a left turn and as soon as the light turned green floored the gas pedal to make the turn in front of the oncoming traffic and plowed into the woman without ever looking? This is ok with you?

I think it's fair to say, folks, that the pedestrian safety problems are more complex than assigning blame to either a victim or a driver in most cases. I'm speaking broadly, not on this particular unfortunate incident. (For what it's worth, per the article, police say the driver and pedestrian both had their respective "safe to cross/drive" signs activated simultaneously in the Wednesday morning accident.)

Having personally reported upon numerous pedestrian strikes, I want to note that in my opinion, there's a degree of carelessness on both sides, as well as difficulties in enforcement and several engineering problems (mostly on county roads).

According to the story from the Record, the driver was uninsured as well.

This is the same Valley Hospital where traffic is terrible to say the least and where they wanted to undergo major renovation, expansion, renewal = even more traffic.I guess the council made the right decision this time. That being said I drive around Ridgewood all day, and can say with authority there are some people that should NOT be behind the wheel. Seems many basics have been forgotten. Yield to pedestrians, drive extra slowly when kids are around, especially where there are parked cars and my pet peeve... if you are passing a parked car or other intrusion into the road and it is on YOUR side of the road YOU must yield to oncoming traffic. Finally I cannot tell you how many people still drive with a cell phone held at their ear. We have a town of terrible drivers, I wish I had an answer.

Steve, your last two comments are my two pet-peeves around town too!

Title is a little misleading, intended to build on recent tempers on the Valley decision?  When I first saw the article I implied someone in front of the hospital enterance on Van Dien got hit.  After reading I was surprise that the accident occurred at the intersection of Van Dien/Linwood (corner of Valley at best).  Another recent article at the same intersection headlined an accident at the intersection and not "in front of valley".  Just my opinion.

I'd really like to start some type of citizen's auxiliary program hat can assist RPD in monitoring drivers who don't yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. I've actually had drivers honk there horn at me when I'm halfway across the street because the driver on one side of the street properly yielded to let me walk and the other driver apparently didn't feel the need to yield or slow down. This car-first mentality has got to stop!

B@B - I agree with what you are saying, and more caution should be used by pedestrians after dark, but this doesn't excuse drivers from not stopping. Car after car after car will pass pedestrians without stopping to let them cross when they are standing at a marked cross walk.

Glenn: On that we agree.

As Per my earlier comments re: the dangerous Library crosswalk situation- our citizens
literally take their life in their Hands attempting to Cross in these walks- dark December + January Winter Evenings are even more dangerous- reflective clothing yes..compliance YES- hey Drivers..JUST STOP,.,,its a simple concept..

Just out of interest, and making some assumptions, this accident may be due to a cultural difference: in China, drivers routinely go through red lights if there is no opposing traffic ... pedestrians do not count as traffic! Painted cross walks are typically seldom observed as "pedestrian protected" areas; drivers just honk at pedestrians to get out of the way or swerve around them. Just to be clear, I'm not promoting this behavior, just providing a possible theory based on personal experience :)