News-Press editorial: Make roads safer for all users

The death of 13-year-old Ryan Michael Santos this
week in Cape Coral is a grim reminder of the
dangers of crossing major roadways by foot or
bicycle except at well-marked crossings with a
traffic light.

Even if every intersection is legally a crosswalk, and
vehicles are required to yield to pedestrians,
crossing at many such intersections is foolhardy.
Too many motorists fail to realize they are supposed
to yield.

Some people, especially youngsters, are tempted to
cross on foot or bike at intersections that are too
dangerous.

Ryan’s death should also strengthen our resolve to
see that roads and streets in Lee County are
designed much more safely for all users of those
roadways, including pedestrians and bicyclists.
This campaign is a continuing one at the local, state
and federal levels, led by such advocates as
BikeWalkLee.

Motorists should be alert and focused on the road.
It’s unacceptable that most crashes can be
prevented by avoiding distractions.

They are under strong legal and moral obligation to
pay close attention to pedestrians and bicyclists on
or approaching the roadway.

To read the full editorial, click here.

Be part of the community conversation about making our roads safer for all users. Share your experiences and ideas with the News-Press mailbag: mailbag@news-press.com.

Letter to Editor: Slow down for kids

Today's News-Press Mailbag includes a heart-wrenching letter about the childhood memory of a young child being killed by a car on McGregor Blvd.


"So please, good neighbors, think about the little
ones when you are trying to save 10 seconds
getting home after work each night."

To read the full letter, click here.

School district bans texting while driving

While the Florida Legislature failed to enact legislation to make it illegal to text while driving, the Lee County School District has implemented a tough policy against employees texting and driving - and now the Lee County Commission is looking to
follow suit, according to today's News-Press. Click here to read the full story.