Movies? Safety First
Much as we like the Hamptons International Film Festival and the action it brings at this time of year, one aspect deserves more attention: Main Street in East Hampton Village.
Even before the festival’s opening night, it seemed as if the jaywalking Olympics has come to town. Moviegoers and festival staff seem to think nothing of sauntering across the street’s four lanes, more or less from in front of Starbucks to the Regal Cinema, and dashing back again.
Factor in low light at evening screen times — and the fading eyesight of many of us drivers of a certain age — and there is the risk of a real life tragic ending, one we have seen here before. This is despite a traffic light at Newtown and Main Street and two nearby crosswalks fitted with buttons that instantly trigger flashing yellow lights to warn motorists that someone is about to cross their paths.
No solution is perfect — and jaywalkers are going to do what jaywalkers are going to do — but it seems to us that the village police, working with the film festival, should take the situation a little more seriously. At a minimum, temporary signs should be placed on Main Street at the obviously tempting spots, directing pedestrians left and right to the crosswalks. It is baffling that something this simple has not been tried before.
One other thought: The good intentions of some drivers, particularly those in the middle lanes on Main Street, who stop to let pedestrians cross, are an invitation to disaster when an unwitting motorist is approaching in the outside, or right-hand, lane. Too frequently, the person on foot is obscured by the Good Samaritan’s vehicle and emerges suddenly into the path of a second driver. Those Star readers inclined to stop to allow jaywalkers to finish their risky crossing should think twice and at least make sure no other vehicles are approaching.
But back to the main point: With extra foot traffic during the festival, an effort should be made to make sure more people use the crosswalks — and keep safe. Here’s to happy endings for all!