I am interested in starting a public awareness campaign called “The K.O.S.S. Initiative.” It stands for Keeping our Streets Safe. Although this speaks for itself, I will elaborate a bit to voice why and how it is important to us Athenians.
I am a delivery driver for Bulldawg Food and drive nearly 11 hours a day. I see a lot of people driving dangerously, pedestrians who treat the crosswalks as untouchable safe zones and cyclists with either too much faith in the motorists around them or too much entitlement that is not misplaced, just not respected or honored.
My main concern as a delivery driver, however, is the overlooked and under-enforced state law that says drivers cannot use their bright lights (or high beams) within the city limits. Drivers (by law) can only use their brights in rural areas, cannot bright-light a law enforcement or public safety vehicle, must dim their lights within 500 feet of oncoming traffic and must never use them when behind another vehicle. But of course, in Athens, there are bigger things for the cops to worry about than enforcing this law.
After speaking with two county representatives, we have come to the conclusion that public awareness will be the biggest factor in addressing this problem. Though the K.O.S.S. Initiative will cover much more than just people dimming their lights within the city limits, I want to stress how much it affects my ability to see the road, pedestrians, cyclists and other obstacles at night and even more so in the rain—as most of the lines on the roads in Athens (especially the Loop) become invisible when they are wet.
Besides this concern of mine that started this idea, I feel that this initiative should also bring to light (no pun intended) the accountability and responsibility that every driver, pedestrian and cyclist should have toward themselves and their fellow citizens. I notice more and more how inconsiderate and oblivious people have become of others—people everywhere, not just in Athens.
We must be reminded that the fundamental level of our experience is relationships. Our experience is made up of relationships, not just between other people, but with the environment and our universe. I send this long-winded message to open up the discussion of public safety between leaders, public figures and citizens—but also to get feedback from you guys on how we should address this and what should be addressed under this initiative.
I want the streets I know so well to feel safe when I am doing my job, but as it stands now, I am simply on edge all day every day from restaurant to customer and back on the very streets I call home.
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