Slow Down In Town

Darien wants you to help make streets safe

So much thought and effort are being put into roads – design, use, maintenance – centered around the vehicles that use them, but not much about the people and places that surround them. But the roads have gotten more and more unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists, and a lot of that has to do with unsafe driving practices. That’s why Darien started Slow Down in Town, which is now in it’s third year.

They describe on their website, SlowDownInDarien. Com, that Slow Down In Town is “a community awareness campaign that seeks to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety by raising awareness of and promoting respect for all users of [Darien’s] roadways. Through education and publicity about safe road sharing, we hope to eliminate pedestrian and cycling accidents in our town.”

While car accidents are not anything new – the first car-related death took place in the 1860s – concerns about unsafe practices getting worse are warranted. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding-related fatalities increased 8% from 2020 to 2021. They also suggest that drivers who speed and their passengers are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors such as drunk driving and not wearing seat belts.

This is true at the state level as well. Back in 2022, the Connecticut Department of Transportation officially urged drivers to slow down.

At the town level, Darien is doing something about it with the Slow Down in Town campaign. They urge that only through working together can we make roads safer: “We can make our roads safer by being more patient while we’re driving, using our horns less, and looking out for each other so we can reduce pedestrian and cycling accidents.”

For good or bad, they also let pedestrians know on their website that they need to walk with their guard up and know they have responsibilities too. “[Pedestrians] need to use sidewalks if they are available; walk in single file into oncoming traffic if no sidewalk exists; use crosswalks when available and follow intersection signals; try to make eye contact with motorists and cyclists if attempting to cross a roadway; and take advantage of intersections where crossing guards are stationed during school hours.”

It’s clear that safety is all of our responsibility – especially on the roads where folks may not realize it, but they are operating heavy machinery. You wouldn’t speed in a dump truck or back hoe, and you shouldn’t speed in your sedan or SUV. The message in Darien is clear, slow down when you’re in town, and make it safer for everyone.