I was nearly flattened into a pancake today as I followed every single pedestrian traffic rule. 

I was crossing York Street on foot toward State Street in the crosswalk, coming off the Casco Bay Bridge. 

The light above me turned red. The crosswalk signal told me to advance. 

For reasons I can't describe, I waited an extra 2 seconds. I didn't start walking across as soon as the signal changed. And those 2 seconds made all the difference. 

Despite there being red lights in all directions, a red SUV ran the light, sped through the crosswalk, and would have completely run me over if I'd been on the road.

The last thing I saw before the vehicle sped away? A giant Jesus bumper sticker. Well, buddy, if your goal was to send me to meet him, you came THIS close.

The driving culture has just GOT to change on the peninsula. This kind of close call is unacceptable. I followed every single rule, and I still almost got clobbered. 

But the worst part? That driver faced no repercussions. There were no cops around to ticket them. I'm not even sure if there's a camera above the light to catch their license plate and mail them a ticket.

They missed me tonight, but they're clearly a very dangerous driver. Who knows when they'll end up hitting someone? Tomorrow? Next week? A few months from now? 

If we can't ban vehicles from the peninsula (with a massive increase in public transit availability, exceptions for drivers with disabilities, and delivery vehicles during certain hours), then we need to change as much as we can about the current driving culture in town.

Lower speed limits. Raised crosswalks. More frequent traffic fines. 

Too many pedestrians have died this year. The culture must change.

The driving culture needs to change.