I wanted to scream as I drove through campus the other day. Why do so many pedestrians ignore traffic signals?

I nearly ran over a girl as she absent-mindedly jaywalked through an intersection while scrolling through her iPod. I honked my horn and she did not even look up. This scene is not unusual around campus.

“This has consistently been an issue,” said Lt. Matt Kiederlen, a 14-year veteran of University Police. “Over the last few years, we have dedicated officers to trying to control the issue, but they cannot be at one intersection the whole time. The minute they leave, the problems start all over again.”

Every day I drive through campus, and every day I’m more surprised at how bold some pedestrians can be. I believe some of them honestly think they are invincible against thousands of pounds of steel. So many pedestrians cross the street when the signal says “DON’T WALK.” These traffic signals are there for a reason, but many people treat them more like suggestions.

I often wonder who gets a ticket when a pedestrian is hit by a car. There is not one clear-cut answer; it depends on the situation. Sometimes there is nothing the driver can do, but most of the time the driver is responsible, Kiederlen said.

Don’t think pedestrians get off that easy, though. There are penalties for those who choose to take a walk on the wild side and cross the street when and where they shouldn’t. Officers can issue a warning to pedestrians telling them not to repeat their behavior, a university citation or even a state citation — a traffic ticket — can be issued, Kiederlen said.

I wonder if these repercussions are enough to make pedestrians follow the traffic signals. If you drive around campus for fifteen minutes, you will clearly see that answer is “no.”

Everyone looks to be in such a hurry. Society as a whole is always rushing from one thing to another. I understand being late for a class and that overwhelming feeling of “Oh no! I better hurry!” We’ve all been there. Many people have classes spread out all over campus. But in the grand scheme of things, is it really worth being so reckless? I don’t think so.

Jamie Rogers is a Campus Reporter for the Northern Star.