(I have also shared the report below with the Westwood Police Department. I
don't know how to share things with the Pedestrian and Bike Safety Committee.)
I wanted to report a close call, but no harm, injuries, or damage, at the
corner of High Rock Street and Dover Road today, about 1 o'clock. This involved
an automobile and a pedestrian. The pedestrian was me.
I was setting out on a run, wearing my "bumble bee" yellow and black jacket and
gloves. I had just left the driveway which my wife, Clare, and I share with our
good neighbors at 328 Dover Road. We're at 320 Dover Road. It's a loop which
drops down from the grade of Dover Road to our homes.
I had progressed about 5 meters towards High Rock Street, moving in the
southerly direction. I don't think I had even gotten halfway to High Rock. I
did notice the south of an engine on High Rock some distance away, but could
not judge the distance. Also, it could have been in the neighborhoods off
Salisbury Drive.
Anyway, to my shock, a sedan turned the corner from High Rock Street, traveling
at speed, and failing to stop for the Stop Sign there. The driver did not even
notice me after he completed the turn, and finally swerved away from me about 3
meters before reaching me.
I did not get a license plate number. My heart was racing and I'm sure my blood
pressure was up, and I have an aneurysm, so my first job was to calm down
again. The driver was, as I said, male, with dark reasonably short-cropped
hair, probably of Irish or Italian descent. That's all I know.
I'm reporting so this gets into the record regarding pedestrian and other
safety on that stretch of High Rock and Dover Road, a stretch which is
particularly precarious during rush hour, even for resident vehicles.
This was midday, and I schedule my runs to avoid rush hour. I have also
replanned my routes twice in the last four years to avoid long stretches of
Dover Road whenever possible, sticking to routes which have sidewalks, such as
later up on High Rock, or Hartford and High Streets, and using other secondary
streets, like Mill Street or Mayfair. I used to run along Dover Road towards
Dover and found that treacherous, despite the 30 mph posting. I used to run
northerly along Dover and then by the DPW into Hale Reservation, but they don't
like strangers on their property, including runners, when they have kids
activities.
The intersection of High Street and Dover is partially difficult because it
ascends from the Meadow Rock Brook Valley up to the Dover Road grade, and, so,
activity on Dover Road is obstructed from view to an oncoming vehicle,
particularly one who seemed to be traveling at some speed.
I know the speed bumps on High Rock and Dover Road are supposed to help control
this, but from what I have witnessed, whether during rush hour or otherwise,
they are ineffective. Most people slow down when they see pedestrians, but that
can, at times like today's, be almost too late.
I have seen couples walking baby carriages along High Rock and Dover Road. And
I have seen members of the Westwood High School track team using High Rock and
Dover Road as part of their practice routes.
There is some fencing and rock along High Street and Dover Road which could
obstruct view as a vehicle approaches it heading west on High Street, but today
I noticed that because the leaves and foliage is down, there is a portion where
activity is visible. I should have been seen, especially with the bright colors
I was wearing.
This could have gone badly in any number of ways, besides putting me at risk.
There could have been oncoming traffic. There could have been pedestrians or
bicycles on the other side. There was a detail earlier in the day escorting
Eversource doing work that could have involved, had they been closer to the
corner. Today was pickup day for trash and recycling on Dover Road, and had WM
trucks or the driver been there, that could have ended badly.
Certainly failing to stop for the Stop Sign is egregious, but I have witnessed
it as some kind of right-on-red extension in people's minds. But this
individual was clearly in a hurry.
Just wanted to get on the books.
Yes, I continued my run, extending it to 4 miles today, my first since
mid-December because I've been ill with a respiratory ailment. I deserved it.
Thanks,
don't know how to share things with the Pedestrian and Bike Safety Committee.)
I wanted to report a close call, but no harm, injuries, or damage, at the
corner of High Rock Street and Dover Road today, about 1 o'clock. This involved
an automobile and a pedestrian. The pedestrian was me.
I was setting out on a run, wearing my "bumble bee" yellow and black jacket and
gloves. I had just left the driveway which my wife, Clare, and I share with our
good neighbors at 328 Dover Road. We're at 320 Dover Road. It's a loop which
drops down from the grade of Dover Road to our homes.
I had progressed about 5 meters towards High Rock Street, moving in the
southerly direction. I don't think I had even gotten halfway to High Rock. I
did notice the south of an engine on High Rock some distance away, but could
not judge the distance. Also, it could have been in the neighborhoods off
Salisbury Drive.
Anyway, to my shock, a sedan turned the corner from High Rock Street, traveling
at speed, and failing to stop for the Stop Sign there. The driver did not even
notice me after he completed the turn, and finally swerved away from me about 3
meters before reaching me.
I did not get a license plate number. My heart was racing and I'm sure my blood
pressure was up, and I have an aneurysm, so my first job was to calm down
again. The driver was, as I said, male, with dark reasonably short-cropped
hair, probably of Irish or Italian descent. That's all I know.
I'm reporting so this gets into the record regarding pedestrian and other
safety on that stretch of High Rock and Dover Road, a stretch which is
particularly precarious during rush hour, even for resident vehicles.
This was midday, and I schedule my runs to avoid rush hour. I have also
replanned my routes twice in the last four years to avoid long stretches of
Dover Road whenever possible, sticking to routes which have sidewalks, such as
later up on High Rock, or Hartford and High Streets, and using other secondary
streets, like Mill Street or Mayfair. I used to run along Dover Road towards
Dover and found that treacherous, despite the 30 mph posting. I used to run
northerly along Dover and then by the DPW into Hale Reservation, but they don't
like strangers on their property, including runners, when they have kids
activities.
The intersection of High Street and Dover is partially difficult because it
ascends from the Meadow Rock Brook Valley up to the Dover Road grade, and, so,
activity on Dover Road is obstructed from view to an oncoming vehicle,
particularly one who seemed to be traveling at some speed.
I know the speed bumps on High Rock and Dover Road are supposed to help control
this, but from what I have witnessed, whether during rush hour or otherwise,
they are ineffective. Most people slow down when they see pedestrians, but that
can, at times like today's, be almost too late.
I have seen couples walking baby carriages along High Rock and Dover Road. And
I have seen members of the Westwood High School track team using High Rock and
Dover Road as part of their practice routes.
There is some fencing and rock along High Street and Dover Road which could
obstruct view as a vehicle approaches it heading west on High Street, but today
I noticed that because the leaves and foliage is down, there is a portion where
activity is visible. I should have been seen, especially with the bright colors
I was wearing.
This could have gone badly in any number of ways, besides putting me at risk.
There could have been oncoming traffic. There could have been pedestrians or
bicycles on the other side. There was a detail earlier in the day escorting
Eversource doing work that could have involved, had they been closer to the
corner. Today was pickup day for trash and recycling on Dover Road, and had WM
trucks or the driver been there, that could have ended badly.
Certainly failing to stop for the Stop Sign is egregious, but I have witnessed
it as some kind of right-on-red extension in people's minds. But this
individual was clearly in a hurry.
Just wanted to get on the books.
Yes, I continued my run, extending it to 4 miles today, my first since
mid-December because I've been ill with a respiratory ailment. I deserved it.
Thanks,
