Regarding the Wednesday article, “Driver sought in hit-and-run of teen outside Meadowdale High”:

This is what is wrong with the traffic cameras in front of Meadowdale High School. The city of Lynnwood had a perfect scenario for crossing a four-lane road with sidewalks. You walked up to the crosswalk, pushed a button and the lights started flashing. This made drivers aware that someone wanted to cross the street. I doubt the city could come up with a pedestrian accident, since the road was improved and flashing lights were installed at either end of the crosswalk in front of the high school…until now.

In the city’s greed to bring in more revenue rather than live within their means (since the mall isn’t able to currently cover their spending habits) traffic cameras were installed. They installed the traffic cameras and signs at each end of the high school property, telling people they will be cited for speeding when the lights are flashing. Then they utilized the existing crosswalk “warning” lights which flash all day. When people get to the warning sign and see the flashing lights, their peripheral vision goes to zero and the only thing they concentrate on is their speedometer.

Maybe the city saved a couple bucks in their haste to generate revenue by using the existing crosswalk lights rather than installing new lights above the warning signs. Or, maybe they didn’t want to warn people too good?

There will be more pedestrian accidents under the current configuration.

Lloyd Anderson

Lynnwood