By Jerry Riley

With all the walking I do and as careful as I am, the odds were still against me, so one morning as I was crossing Route 24, with the walk light, I got hit by a car turning right on red! And, for sure, what a revoltin’ development this is!
I had waited for the walk light. I waited until the car in the right turn lane had come to a stop before I stepped off the curb. As I was walking I heard the car motor engage and saw the car lurch forward. I almost made it but the front fender tossed me to the pavement.
I’ve always tried to stress to pedestrians that they can’t always rely on driver’s to do the right thing. Am I now a good example in a bad situation?
The driver jumped out of his car. Said he just didn’t see me. He gave me all the necessary information. I’ve seen drivers, making a right turn on red do a quick pause instead of a full stop or, as I think in this case, the driver was watching traffic coming from his left.
So far the only thing I have discovered broken is the digital camera I always carry. It hit the pavement with my hip right on top of it. I’ve already ordered a new one.
Several people said I should have been wearing my yellow jacket. Truth is, twice drivers making a left turn failed to see me and one came within a foot of hitting me. That driver also said he was busy watching for oncoming traffic.

Jerry Riley is an occasional commentator for the News Bulletin. He is a retired telecommunications supervisor