By CANDACE MIERS

Staff Writer

The white painted crosswalks on Tech's campus have been both a blessing and a curse.

The crosswalks on campus allow the students to have the right of way while crossing the street. Yet, this convenience for the pedestrians creates a huge inconvenience for the drivers.

"Traffic gets so backed up waiting for people to cross the street when I have to get to class," Laura Clark, a sophomore business major, said.

"Waiting makes me frustrated. I just wish the walkers would be more considerate of the drivers."

Over the past 25 years, the lack of consideration has been not only a nuisance but also a danger.

"Four reported accidents involving students getting hit by vehicles happened last year," Tech police Capt. Raymond Merritt said.

Erik Rasmussen, a student hit twice by a vehicle on campus, with the second hit landing him in the emergency room, said he agrees that dangers on the campus crosswalks exist.

"The problem with crosswalks is that they are just painted lines. Crosswalks are not fences protecting anybody," Rasmussen, a senior graphic design major, said.

The university has made efforts to protect the pedestrians with measures such as placing bright yellow signs at all crosswalks and having police supervision placed in high-traffic areas on campus to prevent the traffic from backing up and keep the pedestrians moving.

Despite the additional efforts, Merritt said he suggests being cautious at all intersections and crosswalks even with the pedestrian right of way.

"Always be careful. You don't want to be dead, right?" Merritt said.

Right or not, vehicles will be victorious over people.Two of the four major accidents last year happened in the rain at night when neither the driver nor the pedestrian could see.

"It's such a huge problem that I don't notice the students crossing the street until they are right out in front of me," Clark said. "I wish they would make their presence known. A wave or something would be nice."

Clark said Tech Drive by the male dorms is problematic.

"I have almost hit several people on Tech Drive because you cannot see them between the cars until it's too late."

Better to be noticed by vehicles than under them.

Rasmussen said, "That whole thing about getting free tuition and straight A's for college if you get hit by a car is all a myth. I did not get either one, not even a get-well card."