Please Be Careful...

[southern cross]

I'm Andy from Birmingham, Alabama and we just completed a wonderful Orlando visit with our recently adopted 4 y/o. Where we live is just an hour's plane ride away from WDW, but we met so many great people from the UK at our hotel.

This morning, however, I heard some horribly disturbing news on local AM radio. One member (I think it was the Dad) of a British family was killed while crossing the road not far from the MGM complex. He was struck by a car. This happened in full view of his whole family... how utterly horrible. I understand it was after nightfall and he was wearing dark clothing. Such things don't help, but I appreciate it never should have happened anyway.

Please be careful, my UK friends. I'm well-travelled and think I can (sadly) say that cross-walks are not observed with the same level of respect here that you're used to. It's not right, but I don't want this happening to you or those you love.

We're back home now and all is well. Tragically, that will not be true for some of your neighbors. They have my prayers.

Andy

 

[natalielongstaff]

thats very sad sometimes we all take risks knowing we shouldn't.

welcome to the disboards andy

 

[shellbell]

Very sad news Its awful when you hear things like this.

Welcome to the Boards

 

[rosiejo]

How awful - we don't really walk anywhere on our trips as we usually stay offsite and drive. And I'm so paranoid of getting arrested for jay walking I only ever cross at traffic lights where it says we can.

With traffic driving on the "wrong" side of the road you can see how this terrible tragedy could happen.

Take care everyone

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Thanks Andy - yes very sad, you only need to drive past the junction of i-drive and Sand Lake to see the difficulties pedestrians can have crossing the road.

 

[bicker]

Actually, this incident occurred near the entrance of Universal Orlando, not near the Disney-MGM Studios theme park.

 

[carolfoy]

Thanks Andy for taking the time to warn us, yes, we Brits (like other nations) are shamefully adept at having our 'holiday heads' on when we're away, Last year I was in FL when a British family were wiped out in a car accident, leaving one small child surviving, they just turned wrong at a junction and were mown down by a huge truck, such a sad story, we can never have too many warnings.

 

[Goofyish]

That's very sad

With traffic coming from the 'wrong' direction it's very easy to look the wrong way when crossing.
I also found that on trying to cross I-Drive, you can not trust the pedestrian crossings - when you get the Green Hand for OK to cross, traffic still seems to be able to turn into the road. So don't rely on it being clear to cross - keep looking and listening!

 

[diddldonna]

Thanks for this warning, You are totally right about crossing roads in the area, its very risky. International drive was a real scarey place when walking across roads, As we found out last year. I thank you for bringing this to everyones attention as it doesn't explain much on the road systems and how they work in guide books.

Donna

 

[JanElliott]

What a sad story. I too can see how it happens. As non car drivers we crossed a lot of roads and it was not easy. The good thing was that the traffic moved a lot slower but the roads were so much wider.

 

[HARRYC]

thanks for that info , what a tragedy ,

i remember my daughter who would have been just about 5 when we first visited the states back in 2000 telling me that on one occassion when we had to cross a road , it was at downtown disney if i recollect that i was doing it wrong...

when asked why she said but daddy you always say that i should stop at the kerb and look right then left ..right then left ...when crossing ...


she was taught this so she wouldnt walk staright out into a oncoming car ...

thats right i said ..but then she pointed out but the cars arent coming that way daddy ...

i didnt get her drift at first but it was the fact that we/they drive on the other side than us ...

made me realise that when abroad even in the states at times you have to be switched on at all times since it is abroad..and even all the more harder when in holiday mode.

 

[highlander447]

Thats sad, its pretty difficult to cross roads in that area even using the crosswalks

 

[bicker]

There are several places around the country (in addition to Orlando, Plano TX comes to mind) where I wonder why they permit folks to cross the road using crosswalks. I believe that specific spot has three (maybe four?) lanes in each direction, separated by a wide median. These roads have traffic lights and intersections with side streets, instead of limited access via exit and entrance ramps, but otherwise are effectively highways. They are not regular "in-town" roads. And the traffic reacts to the broadness of the highway by driving as if it were a highway. Pedestrian traffic will always be unsafe across roads that wide.

 

[tink too]

That really is an awful tragedy. The family involved will always remember their vacation for all the wrong reasons.

Back in 1999, we waited at a crosswalk on I-Drive outside the Quality Inn Plaza. The traffic lights were red, there was not a car in sight and the "green man" appeared. Just as I put one foot out to step into the road, my DH pulled me back (and nearly yanked my arm off) while a sports car ran through the lights at break-neck speed! I had a close call, and now we have DD, I'm even more cautious about crossing!

With traffic coming from the opposite direction than we're used to, overhead traffic signals (uncommon here) and so many lanes - it is quite daunting!

 

[southern cross]

That really is an awful tragedy. The family involved will always remember their vacation for all the wrong reasons.

That was exactly the source of my sadness and why I was compelled to say something. Scrolling up, I see someone here in the US felt the need to point out that I named the wrong park... apparently, it happened closer to Universal than MGM. That makes no friggin' (I'm being nice) difference and is inconsequential insofar as my point is concerned.

I was interested to be reminded that UK visitors instinctively expect traffic to be travelling in the opposite direction... good point. That said, be extra-careful since there are idiot drivers here (as anywhere), no matter your expectations.

I do appreciate all of you visiting the United States. I'm sure I'm in good company on that... Disney in particular ... I just hate that a now incomplete family is returning home with such a horrible memory from these shores. Thus, my original post.

Thank you to those of you we met at the Staybridge Suites and on the bus each day. You were great company.

Andy

 

[Cochise]

I am in utter disbelief on the way xwalks are treated on I drive and i am not talking about me as someone who falls into "Holiday Mode"--- That aint me...

Traffic turning right are legally allowed to turn over the crossing when the crossing says you are allowed to go. Unbelieveable?

The x walks approaching the left turn for Universal approx Sports Dominator were regulary ignored by drivers on "Red" no matter whether people were walking or not.

We panicked everytime we crossed anywhere, laws need to change. Either remove the crossing or red light every lane for 30 seconds or is that too much to ask 2 tonne 5 litre Dodge/Toyota/Chevvy Drivers....

This is the one thing that made me feel unsafe and needs to be sorted.

 

[bicker]

I think some folks might have missed the point. Over 4,000 Americans die each year in the United States as pedestrian fatalities. This is NOT a tourist problem, but rather a general problem that we all must be aware of. Municipalities, such as Orlando are not doing enough to address this issue, to make being a pedestrian safer, either by rebuilding infrastructure or prohibiting crossing highways.

By the same token, it is important to note that some municipalities, such as Reedy Creek, are doing the right thing. The fact is that pedestrians who follow the rules are far safer at WDW than they are around the Universal Studios area. This is a critical distinction that those of us who do like to walk need to know and factor into our decisions about where we visit.

 

[southern cross]

I think some folks might have missed the point. Over 4,000 Americans die each year in the United States as pedestrian fatalities. This is NOT a tourist problem, but rather a general problem that we all must be aware of. Municipalities, such as Orlando are not doing enough to address this issue, to make being a pedestrian safer, either by rebuilding infrastructure or prohibiting crossing highways.

On that note, bicker, I completely agree. My home is at the corner of a 4-way stop. I don't think they exist in Great Britain. We're in a residential area (read: kids, dogs, etc) and unfortunately, coming through our neighborhood is a short cut around more congested intersections for those who have figured it out. They often do so at high speeds and ignore the stop signs.

On behalf of our neighborhood association, I got in touch with our local law enforcement (Shelby County Sheriff's Office) and they were responsive beyond my expectations. That is, they wrote enough citations to keep everyone righteous for a while and they re-visit as needed.

Orlando needs to get all over this in the same way. Chochise, who posted prior to your last, apparently understands that traffic may not turn through an intersection while the "Walk" light is displayed. It's not his fault, though we both know that's incorrect here... drivers need only yield to pedestrian traffic at such intersections.

Sorry if I'm on a soap-box here, but someone was killed. It would seem two things are necessary: (1) Educate international visitors concerning what's safe (2) Ticket the hell out of local motorists who have no business possessing a driver's license.

I'll shut-up now. This was just my $.02.

Andy

 

[Red-Snapper]

I really dont think crossing the road in Florida is any worse than many other places in the world.

Try crossing in any major European city without looking etc - They all have different driving rules and road layouts too.

I think things need to be kept in perspective, the turning on red and 4 -way junctions are good advice but - a first timer checking this thread might get the impression that Orlando is some form of race drivers paradise.

Also to the Americans that have posted on this thread - you wont find it common for people to be meandering in the road in the UK - and anyone who walks out onto a pedestrian crossing without looking will probably get run over here too !!

Its worth pointing out that compared to some cities in the UK the amount and speed of traffic in Orlando is actually pretty light and speeds are generally lower. I-Drive is busy but so is Oxford street.

 

[Cochise]

Andy,

Obviously i can only talk from my own experiences on I Drive. I can see why so many are killed and it is certainly a problem. From my experiences 50% did yeild to pedestrians and 50% drove on thru without stopping.