Heavy Traffic, Pedestrians Are Recipe for Disaster

Santa Ana may have more than its fair share of fatalities linked to jaywalking, but Stanton also has jaywalking problems. Drive down Beach Boulevard any time of day or night and you’re likely to see individuals stranded on the median, waiting for traffic to let up so they can scurry to the other side.

The combined elements of Stanton’s wide, busy streets, few crosswalks and numerous pedestrians are a recipe for disaster. In fact, police say more than a dozen people have died trying to cross busy Beach Boulevard since the mid-’90s.

The crux of Stanton’s problem is similar to that in Santa Ana. Stanton’s streets cater to drivers rather than pedestrians. The county’s answer for a fast vehicular corridor connecting north to south, Beach Boulevard, is the epitome of efficiency. Its timed stoplights permit travel at a steady 45 mph. The street has several lanes on each side of a concrete median, keeping traffic flow steady. And the half-mile blocks keep traffic stops to a minimum.

But although the roadways are great for cars, Stanton residents must contend with streets that divide their city about in half, separating residential from commercial areas. With crosswalks only every half-mile, many opt for the shorter route even if they know it has inherent dangers.

Like many living on the western side of Beach Boulevard, Jose Hurtado, 39, says he won’t walk his children across the street unless it’s in a crosswalk. But if he’s alone, he doesn’t hesitate to head to the strip mall on the east side containing Latino and Japanese markets, a beauty shop and a nightclub, and simply steps into the street. “To walk all the way down to the crosswalk takes too long,” he said.

Women at Jacqueline’s, a beauty shop in the strip mall, say they often see people walking to the mall without using the crosswalks.

“All day long, I see people walk from the neighborhood across the street over to here,” said hairdresser Adella Gutierrez.

Councilman David John Shawver said the council and city’s staff recognize the problem but have relatively little power to do anything. The city can’t put in more crosswalks because, although Beach Boulevard passes through their city, the state has jurisdiction because it’s a state highway. The Sheriff’s Department could increase enforcement, but technically, much of the foot traffic crossing Beach Boulevard is not illegal. A pedestrian can legally cross between traffic lights if a side street breaks up the block.

In the past, the city has posted signs and issued literature warning against jaywalking, and Shawver said he still believes education represents the city’s best option for handling the problem.

Judy Silber can be reached at (714) 966-5988.