(Hai Fe) - Crossings are supposed to be safe areas for pedestrians, but on Sderot Moriah - Sderot Handev in Haifa, the reality is far from that. This is a crossing where accidents and incidents of almost being run over have become an alarming routine, according to the residents of the area.
One of the residents, a student who moved to live in the city a year ago, shares a lively conversation: "Since I've lived here, I've lost count of the times I've almost been run over or seen an accident happen before my eyes. Two days ago, I crossed the crosswalk and one vehicle, which stopped to allow me to cross, was hit by another vehicle. I feel like my life is in danger every time I cross there. We must install a traffic light or at least a flashing sign that will warn of the crosswalk."
The student is not the only one who is afraid. Other residents told similar stories about experiences of daily danger at the crosswalk. A., a resident of the area, shares: "My partner and I were driving when we saw a father and son about to cross the crosswalk. We stopped in the left lane, but another vehicle slammed into us. If we were closer, the father and son could have been badly hurt. The vehicle that hit us threw us more than two meters from the place where we stopped."
According to the residents, the main problem lies in the problematic infrastructure and the confusing road signs in the crossing area. Many traffic signs, the lack of sufficient lighting, and a sense of general chaos - all these create a dangerous situation in which pedestrians and drivers are not safe.
The residents demand that the municipality act urgently to improve safety in the place. "We are not waiting for the next disaster", conclude the residents of the neighborhood. "It's time to act - before it's too late."
The Haifa Municipality responded: "The Municipality of Haifa sees great importance in improving road safety, especially in areas where challenges or safety hazards have been reported. To this end, the municipality intends to promote traffic lights at the intersection in question, in order to enable safe regulation of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. These days, the municipality is working to complete the planning and with At the end of it, the municipality will start placing the traffic light in the area."
Is it not possible to slow down the traffic by the traffic light? Who only looks at a tiny traffic light?
The lower entrance to Ramat Eshkol is very dangerous
The cars are flying downhill
There have already been several accidents with injuries and deaths
Much has been said about it and nothing has been done
The solution is to significantly expand Moriah Ave. and add matron tracks as well. This way the traffic will increase many times and the accidents will disappear... Anyone who thinks this is a joke should look at the programs offered by the Haifa municipality.
My son was also run over by an elderly female driver last summer at the crosswalk between Hankin and the International and she ran away without seeing what happened, I asked the municipality for a certificate from the camera and they claimed that there is no name, it is a large intersection and there is sure to be. Disappointing that they didn't help me find the predator. It's scary to have such intersections.
What is dangerous is the excess of vehicles on the roads, which this municipality accepts almost exclusively in considerations - pandering to car owners at the expense of all other types of road users. There are no bike lanes. There is no traffic slowdown. There is no exclusive bus lane. There are no wide sidewalks. There is no preference for pedestrians when crossing on the right, for example from Shmariahu Levin to Herzl there is a green for both vehicles and pedestrians. Also a lack of normal priorities and damage to the quality of life as well as to the soul.
A traffic light will definitely help. Keep in mind that the crosswalk is located at the beginning of a steep descent: many vehicles, continuing down, glide quickly and are not careful when approaching the crossing. On the other hand, ascending vehicles speed up the ascent with a similar risk.
My daughter was run over a few years ago at this dangerous crosswalk in Moriah near Sderot Handiv. Very dangerous!!!! The drivers coming from the direction of the center of Carmel do not see the pedestrians because the processor is lower and after a turn, the danger increases in the evening when traveling faster. I would like to hear in a follow-up article the reaction of the Haifa Municipality traffic department.
In my estimation, at least some of the accidents involving cars that collide with cars that are trying to give way to pedestrians trying to cross the crosswalk are due to the driver of the rear car being distracted by looking at the smartphone screen...
I was the victim of such an accident in Moria (I stopped for pedestrians before an unsignaled crosswalk) and the car behind me collided with me from behind with force and flipped my car over and a little across the crosswalk. The offending driver did not say what he was busy with at the time - but this is my assessment...
Luckily for us, this time the matter ended only with property damage (and a waste of time repairing the cars)...
The municipality must fine any vehicle parked blocking sidewalks and crossing traffic islands.
There is no other choice.
A crossing is really dangerous and needs a flashing sign or a traffic light
accurate
Add to this the lack of enforcement regarding vehicles parked at crosswalks, or parked half a meter in front of them (where prohibited and marked as prohibited), blocking the line of sight, both for drivers and pedestrians.
Unfortunately not the only one. Crossing the crosswalk in front of the Shimshon / Naamat intersection is a danger to life. Drivers speeding up the steep descent and more than once pedestrians have been injured, not to mention accidents between vehicles. Only a traffic light will solve the problem.