Distracted driving. Visibility impairment caused by solar glare. Dark clothing in the early hours of the morning or late at night. There are any number of reasons a driver may not notice a pedestrian in the street, even on a crosswalk.
“For pedestrians, the risk is there no matter what. Always be vigilant,” said Belmont Police Sgt. Richard Murphy. “For motorists, the same applies; vigilance is critical. You can’t be too careful.”
Between November 2019 and November 2024, Belmont Police issued 141 civil motor vehicle infractions or written warnings for failure to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Last week, on Nov. 25, a Belmont resident was in a crosswalk on Common Street at Palfrey Road when he was struck by a 2012 Toyota, propelling him onto the hood of the car, according to Sgt. Murphy. The man was transported to the hospital with head and lower extremity injuries, and the driver, an Arlington man, was issued a citation for a crosswalk violation.
Days before that, on Nov. 21 at 5:40 p.m., a Winthrop woman was struck on Belmont Street and found lying conscious and alert about 10 feet from the crosswalk, according to police logs. She was transported to the hospital for her injuries, and the driver of the 2009 Cadillac, a Belmont man, was issued a citation for failure to stop for a pedestrian in the crosswalk. He attributed the dark and the rain to impairing his vision.
Since November 2019, police have documented 26 such pedestrian accidents, seven of which involved pedestrians on crosswalks, according to police records. Most of those accidents happened at intersections along Trapelo Road, Concord Avenue and Leonard Street.
Data from the last five years appears to be on par with data from the decade prior, with 78 documented crashes involving pedestrians between 2007 and 2018, according to data from the Belmont Police Department. Those accidents also largely occurred along Trapelo Road, Leonard Street, and Concord Avenue.
“If there is any contact and a call is made to us, it’s documented to the fullest,” Murphy said. “As long as we’re aware and there was, in fact, contact, it will be documented.”
Murphy recalled two fatal accidents in the last five years; before that, dating back to 1982, there were a total of 14 fatalities.
“We’ll get a lot of complaints about [drivers turning] right on red or general speeding. Obviously, those have risks associated but anything that’s specific to pedestrians potentially getting injured is going to be a high priority,” he said.
One area people typically express concern about is Concord Avenue in the vicinity of the Belmont Middle and High School, where traffic is heavy, and students and families are on foot.
According to police data, there were no reports in the last five years of pedestrian accidents in the vicinity of the new Belmont Middle and High School. In the 10 years prior to that, however, two accidents were reported on Concord Avenue at Orchard Street and Oak Street.
“There may not have been any documented pedestrian strikes there (in the last five years), but just given the level of concern around the school, that is being addressed,” Murphy said. “In that same vein, similar work is being planned for the length of Grove Street.”
Over the last 15 years, improvements have been made across town with the goal of making pedestrian travel safer, according to Murphy.
Traffic lights have longer delay times, allowing for pedestrians to cross safely. Concord Avenue at Cottage Street, where Underwood Pool is located, now has a beacon light (pedestrian light signal). Most recently, a beacon light was installed at Pleasant Street at Stella Road. Other changes are in the pipeline to redo a portion of Concord Avenue.
“There are changes happening perpetually,” Murphy said.
