The Beachcomber staff has recently received multiple phone calls and emails about pedestrians and safety, specifically when it comes to busy intersections in town and the dark streets throughout the island that become even more dangerous in the winter.

With no streetlights on the majority of island roads, it is up to pedestrians and bicycle-riders to ensure they can be seen. This means wearing bright or reflective clothing, carrying a flashlight or mounting one to bicycles and being aware of surroundings, including vehicles and potential blind spots such as curves in the road, trees or other hazards.

Wearing head-to-toe black, gray or other dark colors makes it impossible for drivers to see pedestrians in the dark. Throw in some rain, snow or slick roads and the situation can become far worse.

But the issue extends beyond the unlit roads outside of Vashon town. At the intersection of Bank Road and Vashon Highway in town, some islanders say they have been noticing increasingly dangerous situations as pedestrians seem to be crossing at all times, even against traffic.

Last week, islander Bridget Shore called the newspaper office to talk about her experience. She said she was at the intersection when a car waiting to cross proceeded into the intersection, but was stopped in the middle when a person jumped off the curb and into the crosswalk.

“There were more people on the sidewalk, and they all decided to follow and cross the street, and this car was just stuck, waiting,” she said. “It throws the whole pattern off.”

And Shore was only the most recent person to comment on the intersection. Last year, islander Scott Durkee wrote an email to The Beachcomber outlining the rules of the road surrounding four-way stops.

Rule number one is that the first car to the intersection goes first. Confusion can arise though if two cars get to the intersection at the same time. In this situation, the car on the right has the right-of-way.

As for pedestrians, it is important that they cross with traffic heading north to south or east to west in order to cut down on confusion and the potential for a crash.

While drivers have a responsibility to be alert and careful, the onus also falls on pedestrians to use common sense to keep themselves safe. From realizing drivers’ inability to see in the dark, to crossing with traffic, common sense can go a long way.