Letter to the Editor: School Crossing on 208th Avenue Needs More Visibility

I drive my daughter to school each day and traffic is always bad. However, today I watched as one of the middle school girls I've known since 2nd grade almost get mown down in the crosswalk by a speeding and distracted driver. Fortunately, the driver swerved right instead of left and the girl is safe. 

The crosswalk on 208th AVE NE in front of the Dickinson/Explorer Elementary and Evergreen Middle School has been a point of contention for years with the families who live too close to be bussed to school. Children (and adults) have been walking a thin line between safety and danger on this road for a long time. The sidewalk is not marked with more than a sign off to the side and those in a hurry (ie, everyone) use this road as a would be shortcut to get to the main arterials.

The sheriff has been notified previously and when advised, comes to watch the traffic ebb and flow. Naturally, with that kind of presence, everyone slows down. It's when there is an absence of ticket fear that the danger becomes clear and present.  What can be done? Will it take a child's death to make the crosswalk more visible?

—A. Huss, Redmond