The more I read the newspaper or watch the news on T.V., the more I am aware of people who try to blame their own ignorance or stupidity on others. It is my opinion that Jeff Vogelsang’s column which appeared on Dec. 5 is an obvious example of this type of behavior.

Mr. Vogelsang reports on his experience of being hit by a car on Normal Road while crossing it outside of the designated crosswalk. He then goes on to blame the accident on the driver of the vehicle and the 30 mph speed limit of the road, suggesting that a decrease in the speed limit on this road might alleviate the problem of pedestrians being hit in the future. I might add that he also makes a sarcastic comment or two about the officer who issued him a citation for his actions.

I sympathize with Mr. Vogelsang to some extent for the injuries he sustained in his accident, but I am in no way able to accept the fact that he is attempting to blame everyone but himself for his actions. Crosswalks are marked on roadways for a reason and to choose not to use them is a calculated risk and in some places it is illegal. This is not to say that I have never crossed a street outside of a crosswalk, but it is to say that I would never attempt to blame another person who was obeying the law for hitting me while I did so. It is also to say that we cannot expect a speed limit change on a road just because someone doesn’t look where they are going.

Perhaps the issue of a speed limit adjustment on this road does deserve some looking into, but I don’t believe that one person’s irresponsibility for his own actions or carelessness should be the reason.

Guy Petty

Junior

Sociology