ROAD SAFETY: The town of Aulnay-sous-Bois intends to fight against road accidents, recurring in the city …
- The town of Aulnay-sous-Bois has set up figurines of children size of eight pedestrian crossings situated near schools.
- It intends to empower motorists and fight against road accidents, common in this city of Seine-Saint-Denis.
They are 20 little figures known as ” Pieto ” that have appeared on pedestrian crossings in the city of Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), late August. Deployed near schools at a cost of 16,680 euros, these figures are intended to improve the safety of pedestrians, including school children.
“In addition to the existing signaling, date, these figures will warn motorists that they run close to school groups and it is therefore necessary to be vigilant and to slow, says Bruno Beschizza Mayor (LR) Aulnay-sous-Bois. In winter, when the sun sets earlier, the visibility of pedestrians, especially children at the school gate, is much lower. “Pieto is equipped with reflective strips to remind drivers that there is a pedestrian crossing, the proximity of a school and must slow down.
Recurring accidents
The council intends to prevent road accidents, recurring in Aulnay-sous-Bois. “Here, it’s every day! “Complains George, the manager of a coffee. The city is surrounded by motorways A1, A3 and A104 and crossed by the national 2 and 370. Some vehicles, too many, too often circulate at high speed. “There are days when it’s hellish. In some people, the shelves tremble with trucks. Before yesterday, a little boy was hit. It happens, “said Sylvie, an officer responsible for road safety. In 2016, the town experienced a long series of road accidents killed one and thirteen injured in the span of a month. In October 2016, it is a pregnant woman and her baby in a stroller that had been struck by a motorist reported Le Parisien .
Local residents, however, are divided on the relevance and effectiveness of this measure. “The figures are not visible enough, warns a sewage worker, they should be bigger, flashier, otherwise it will not be effective. “Some residents do not agree. This is the case of a motorist interviewed, “I think it’s great, he enthuses, Aulnay-sous-Bois was lagging behind other cities that had already implemented such a device. It’s quite light and more I find it quite nice. ”
Speed cameras on traffic lights
Sylvie also the good idea, “but it would also put them on the great avenue that children go through but also many elderly people. It should also be more signs and speed bumps. I asked at the town hall but they said it was the responsibility of the department. ” Georges is of this opinion, but think “it will not be effective, there are too many people. They would have to be larger and we install speed bumps. ”
“This will unfortunately not solve everything but it is a measure that adds to the other and reduces risks. If the equipment can prevent even just an accident, it is obviously good to take. And besides, it’s rather nice and fun! “Enthuses Bruno Beschizza. This preventive measure is in addition to an investment of 26,800 euros in speed cameras, says Le Parisien, some linked to traffic lights.
