A Plea for my British Friends.

[momof3disneyholics]

Thursday night a family of British Tourists experienced their worst nightmare here in Orlando. They were staying at a hotel across from Universal off of Kirkman rd. It was nighttime, dark outside, and they decided to cross one of the busiest streets in Orlando by foot. Kirkman is one of the most dangerous streets to try to cross in this city. They did not make it across. The father was hit by an oncoming car and died at the scene as his wife and two sons watched.
This is the part that really upsets me. I work in guest services at one of those hotels across the street from Universal on Kirkman. It would have only cost that family 6.00 (six dollars) to take a taxi over to Universal that night. Why didn't they take it? Why did they feel that crossing a dangerous 8 lane highway at night was a good idea?
Please, Please, Please, my British friends, take a taxi. Whenever you are going to be crossing a busy street, please take a taxi instead. Ask your guest service person for information and help with this. This is what we get paid to do and we specialize in helping you.
This has really hit me hard, because even though I didn't see the accident happen, I drove by afterwards and saw the aftermath of it. I work so closely with British and Irish tourists, that I feel a special connection with this, and it hurts me so bad because this could have been prevented.
Please don't let this happen again.

 

[Minniespal]

Thank-you so much for posting this. We have always felt really safe whilst in Florida and I think this is down to always hiring a car when we are there. I think it is easy to get so excited by everthing in Florida that sometimes you forget that bad things can happen.

Thanks again.

 

[eyoreaud]

Thanx fof posting this warning, it's awful for the poor family of this man, it doesn't even bare thinking about but lets hope it serves as a warning to us all, thet along with all the fun and excitment we also have to take care when doing something we normaly wouldn't think twice about at home.

Take care and be safe
Luv Audrey

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Here's a link to the story if anyone is interested.
http://www.wftv.com/news/5195314/detail.html

 

[Minniespal]

The poor family. Thinking of them

 

[diberry]

That is terribly sad. I'm not really sure what a "cross walk" is. Is it like a pedestrian crossing? If so, you can understand why they might have thought they were safe crossing there. Personally I find those 8 lane highways terrifying - especially as you never know where the cars are going to come from, especially at junctions, with them driving on the other side of the road from what we are used to, and with it legal for cars to turn right on red in some places. It's such an awful thing to happen especially knowing how much people plan and save and look forward to their holidays .

 

[Hilary]

This is so tragic

It would have only cost that family 6.00 (six dollars) to take a taxi over to Universal that night. Why didn't they take it? Why did they feel that crossing a dangerous 8 lane highway at night was a good idea?

I wonder whether the answer may, in part, be that it is more common for us to park and walk to places in the UK. With space at more of a premium here, the UK doesn't have parking lots next to each store / restaurant, and we're used to having to walk (and cross roads) to reach our destination.

There's never a 'logical' explanation for a terrible accident such as this, but it sounds more like a case of unfamiliarity than foolhardiness.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I'm not really sure what a "cross walk" is. Is it like a pedestrian crossing? If so, you can understand why they might have thought they were safe crossing there. Personally I find those 8 lane highways terrifying - especially as you never know where the cars are going to come from, especially at junctions, with them driving on the other side of the road from what we are used to, and with it legal for cars to turn right on red in some places.

Cross walks are Pedestrian crossings. You cannot just cross at a crosswalk anytime you want. Most of them have lights that tell you when it is safe to cross. People need to watch the lights. I have been driving in tourist areas at night before and seen people running across the street barely missing oncoming traffic. When people are coming down the street at 45 mph it is really hard to stop suddenly when someone runs out in front of you.
Tourists really need to utilize the transportation options that are available. Some areas are safe to walk around in, but most are not.

 

[Minniespal]

Cross walks are Pedestrian crossings. You cannot just cross at a crosswalk anytime you want. Most of them have lights that tell you when it is safe to cross. People need to watch the lights. I have been driving in tourist areas at night before and seen people running across the street barely missing oncoming traffic. When people are coming down the street at 45 mph it is really hard to stop suddenly when someone runs out in front of you.
Tourists really need to utilize the transportation options that are available. Some areas are safe to walk around in, but most are not.

Very well explained and said.

 

[bicker]

I mentioned this in another thread on this subject earlier today -- I really feel that they shouldn't allow pedestrians to cross highways wider than two lanes in each direction. It simply isn't safe.

 

[Cyrano]

Very sad for the family and a timely reminder about safety in another country .

 

[mark&sue]

I agree with Hillary in that walking is not the issue. I love to walk and would not think of getting a taxi if I could walk. Obviously crossing a road safely is the issue.

I have tears in my eyes as I read this. I work in London near a busy crossing and there seems to be accidents at this crossroads at least once a month. It is not only holidays where people take risks. I do think authorities ought to take notice at accident blackspots and try to ensure safer crossings.

I am staying at SSR in October and want to walk to DTD and crossroads. I do not want to take a taxi but will know that we only have a very quick time to cross. Thanks to the OP as I will take extra care when we are out there next year.


Susan

 

[shellbell]

This is very sad news, You really feel for his wife and sons

 

[T16GEM]

This is so sad, I cannot begin to imagine how awful it must have been for the family. I have seen people trying to cross the highway outside Old Town (192) just because they don't want to drive from the Ponderosa over the other side of the road, it's a risk just not worth taking.

My thoughts are with the family.