“A silver SUV nearly
hit my daughter – I pulled her out of the way just in time.”
“Man hit by car at
Bur Oak and Cornell Park.”
“Speeding cars
short-cutting down lane-ways - 5 feet from where kids walk out. Accident waiting to happen.”
“Driver ignored school
bus sign and told me to &^#% off when I called out a reminder.”
“Lady walked right
out in traffic without looking at 9th line and Hwy 7.”
“Girl 4 dies, after
being struck by vehicle in Markham.”
All reports from social and traditional media within the last month. One precious child died in Markham on October
22nd, 2015. Her sister also hit, hospitalized
with serious injuries. Enough is
enough.
A family tragedy.
A community outraged.
If I am honest with myself, I might have been a less careful
driver before I had kids – when it seemed to make sense to drive faster rather
than leaving 10 minutes earlier. Now,
with two kids I walk to and from school daily, the carelessness of the few is
evident. The vast majority of drivers
respect the law and use caution. It is the few that we must get this message
to.
SLOW DOWN - LEAVE EARLIER - BE ALERT
Residents of the Villages of East Markham were tired of
being angry about drivers not taking greater care and we came together to do something positive. ‘SLOW DOWN East Markham” Facebook group was
born, where community members could share ideas and MAKE WAVES in our streets, drawing
attention and driving change.
The first initiative
was inspiring.
 |
| Photo credit: Charlotte Kirby |
A Non-Profit called “Kids at Play” (KAP) grew from a similar tragedy in 2014.
To educate their community, they introduced signs that could be posted
throughout community streets reminding drivers and pedestrians to “SLOW DOWN –
Kids at Play”. “SLOW DOWN East Markham”
worked with KAP, the City of Markham, and
11 small business sponsors to get 200 signs in position in time for Halloween.
And in just 4 days - WE DID IT!!
Group members throughout the villages of East Markham
reported drivers reducing their speed and using extra caution this
weekend. Neighbors were helping neighbors place signs in high traffic areas, school zones and busy intersections. The response was so positive we hope to place another 1000 signs with our next event. Residents were proudly installing signs as their own commitment to safe driving. But it can’t end here. We must MAKE WAVES to keep this conversation going
- residents working with each other and the City of Markham to improve the
safety of our streets.
Two hundred signs won’t bring back that precious 4-year old
girl. These signs won’t stop the driver’s
kids from now being bullied in school.
This initiative won’t change the fact that in one horrible moment, two families and a community were changed
forever. We must remember that the
drivers in our community are our neighbors.
Getting the word out, keeping the SLOW DOWN conversation going must
happen neighbor to neighbor to avoid more tragedies.
Many of these villages were created as “walking communities”
where residents like me walk kids to school, the dentist, the bakery, library, hair
salon and local parks. If walking isn’t safe in a “walking community”, where
should it be safe? Whether speed humps/bumps/cushions, more police patrol,
neighbors reporting neighbors, driver and pedestrian education, crossing guards,
speed tracking signs, photo radar …. Residents must be diligent and
persistently throw solutions at this problem to keep our children safe on
village streets.
Recognizing our small business sponsors for their decisive commitment
to community action:
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