Advice from a small town girl

This morning I was nearly witness to an accident at the intersection of Highways 21 and 28. A large black tractor-trailer rig nearly T-boned a white SUV. It appeared to me that the accident was avoided by mere inches. The SUV had the right-of-way, but I don't know if the truck had stopped initially or if the driver just blew the stop sign. The thought of being run into by a semi is mind-boggling.

I think it’s really pretty amazing that there aren’t more accidents at that intersection.

It’s also pretty amazing that pedestrians escape this town with their lives.

Now it’s time for my confession.

I suspect that it’s all my fault that there is talk of cracking down on the “rampant” jaywalking in Odessa.

About a week before the March town council meeting where Chief Coubra talked about cracking down on speeders and jaywalkers, I was on the south side of First Avenue, headed for the quilt shop, when Chief Coubra drove by. I gave her a cheery wave and proceeded to jaywalk across the street right behind her car. Oops.

Now, I know that I’m not the only person in Odessa guilty of jaywalking. I’ve seen a lot of you do it, too. But I am afraid that episode may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Since the March 28 issue of The Record, I’ve been trying to be good. It’s not easy.

Especially when I feel that I’m more in danger in the crosswalk than out of it.

I caught myself just yesterday mouthing words that should not be printed (ever), just after a Camry flew by me right outside my business. I’m pretty sure that they were going faster than 30 miles per hour, but maybe not. Thirty miles per hour is actually pretty fast when you’re standing still. Especially if it’s headed straight toward you.

I noticed when I first moved here that Odessans have a somewhat inconsistent attitude toward pedestrians at crosswalks. You never know if the driver headed your way is one of those who will stop in the middle of the intersection to let you cross (which is what the aforementioned white SUV did for me earlier this morning) or (like someone who is near and dear to my heart) just keep going.

Actually, I’ve always felt safer when I jaywalk, because I make sure no vehicles are coming before I do. And, truth be told, when I’m at a crosswalk in Odessa now, I do the same thing. I’ve been nearly taken out more than a few times by speeders, gawkers, or people who apparently do not understand that some people actually walk.

I’m afraid that my thought processes are a little linear about this. If the sign says “25” then you should be going 25 when you reach it. And when the sign says “60,” shouldn’t you be able to apply the same principle?

I could fill several columns with my opinions about the nature of walkers, riders, drivers and so forth. But I don’t think I will.

I will, however, keep using the crosswalk. And my eyes.