Watch where you walk!

The Department of Health, Safety, and Environment would like to urge all of our staff to be mindful of their surroundings when walking around campus. Having the right of way and walking in the crosswalk does not keep you from being struck by distracted or negligent drivers. Ignoring posted warnings and walking in a busy city street is not only dangerous, it’s simply not a smart thing to do. As the days grow shorter and dusk arrives earlier, the risk will increase.

Two accidents involving pedestrians struck by vehicles occurred on the East Baltimore campus recently. On October 13, a Hopkins employee was struck crossing Washington Street by a vehicle turning left onto Washington Street from Monument Street. On October 25, a pedestrian was struck as she crossed Monument Street at the Northeast Market by a vehicle turning left onto Monument Street from Chester Street. In both incidents, the pedestrian was crossing with the light (had the right of way) and was in the crosswalk. Both occurred between 8 and 9 a.m., so darkness/poor visibility was not a factor.

On the same day as the second accident, we received a report of a pedestrian struck while walking in Monument Street, outside of the construction area at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. While we have not confirmed any details of this accident, we can attest that both Hopkins staff and other pedestrians routinely ignore the signs posted at this location and walk in the street.

 Please, be careful out there.