Yet another in a likely to be continuing series on the Q-up’s of the Hancock Street Misalignment:  Are Quincy Center’s new traffic signs baiting pedestrian carnage?

As Quincy Quarry readers as well as Quincy Center pedestrians, pedestrian safety while crossing the new Hancock Street along the still yet-to-be New Quincy Center has only worsened along the but few largely completed portions of Hancock Street Misalignment Project.

And now pedestrians are facing a new as well as potentially fatal peril.

A City stuck in gridlock?
An Iconic Quincy Quarry News file photo

Specifically, the new vehicle and pedestrian traffic lights on Hancock Street between the Quincy Center MBTA station and the Presidents Place office building are of new design as far as most locals are concerned.

While the new traffic lights are said to be both federally and state-approved, such does not mean that the drivers passing through the Q have a clue as to what they mean.

Even worse, upon further review by Quincy Quarry of the apparently official instructions for the new traffic signs, pedestrians are clearly open to risk when they can only reasonably assume it is (somewhat, ed.) safe to cross.

Instructions leading pedestrian lambs to slaughter
A cropped Hawk Signal instructions graphic
Click on image to see and read larger image

Specifically, look to the line five instructions in the text of the above-attached graphic in the graphic to the left.

Pedestrians are shown a countdown of the time they have left to cross the streets; HOWEVER, halfway through the countdown drivers are then shown a flashing red light that allows them to proceed if they feel that the crosswalk is clear of pedestrians.

At least several clear and potentially fatal problems are clear per any reasonable read of the instructions. 

For starters, so much for Red Light/Green Light.

Additionally, is the danger that most pedestrians will assume that they can still cross the street if they feel there is sufficient time left on the countdown clock whereas drivers might view the crosswalk as clear just as a pedestrian might opt to cross.

Meowth is roadkill
Fair use WP:NFCC#4 http://bit.ly/2a0hcUf

One can thus readily foresee the following statement made to police by a driver after whacking a pedestrian:

“But, officer, I was just trying to Poké Ball a Pokémon.”

Another valid concern is that like Quincy drivers abide by traffic laws.

After all, all one has to do is stand on the sidewalk for 15 minutes most anywhere along Hancock Street in Quincy Center and one is sure to see at least one driver bang an illegal U-turn.

In short, given this latest added confusion, Quincy Quarry cannot help but fear that at some point – and probably sooner rather than later – a pedestrian crossing per the rules for these new lights is going to be struck.

Only how seriously is yet to be known.

As such, expect Quincy Quarry to report if – but mostly likely instead when – it happens.

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