Three days before her 94-year-old neighbor was hit, Loes from Eindhoven already warned about the traffic light at the Rondweg and Tongelresestraat. The elderly in particular would hardly have enough time to cross there. On Friday, exactly what she feared happened. Boeb (94) was hit by a car and ended up in hospital.
Omroep Brabant has started a reporting center for traffic lights where pedestrians feel like they almost have to sprint to get to the other side safely.
Loes was one of the first Brabant residents to report and shared her concerns about the traffic light in her street in the Omroep Brabant radio program Afslag Zuid. “I have elderly neighbors who walk with a walker. They are almost driven off the road,” she said. “It’s not too bad at the moment, but then you will see that if you say something, something will happen.” Three days later it happened and her neighbor was hit at the same intersection.
Bruised ribs
94-year-old Boeb was hit while crossing at the traffic light. “Boom, I was flat on the ground,” he says. “I have pain all over my left side, my knees, my buttocks and my back.”
He is left with bruised ribs from the collision. After the blow, he was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he remained overnight for observation. He is now back home, but the pain is still intense.
According to Boeb, it happened while he had the green light. “All I know is that I’m going to run with green, but I can’t run that fast anymore because of my age.”
“Things go wrong here more often.”
At the traffic light itself, Loes points out where things went wrong. “This is where our neighbor lay and then to the hospital,” she says. “Things go wrong here more often. Very often, regularly: fire brigade, police, ambulance.”
Other pedestrians also recognize the problem. “The traffic light will soon turn red again,” says a young woman at the intersection. “I can imagine that it is difficult for the elderly.”
Another passerby says: “With a bicycle in hand or if you are a bit older, people often have to stop in the middle.” A boy who is crossing the street in a hurry says: “You always have to run here. It’s not feasible for the elderly these days.”
The municipality was aware of earlier signals
The municipality of Eindhoven has announced that questions have previously been asked about the duration of the green pedestrian light at this intersection. However, this did not lead to any adjustments. According to the municipality, the green time is ‘sufficiently long to cross safely’, because after green there is still a safety time during which pedestrians can complete their crossing.
The municipality does say that the intersection will be included in future plans for a new design of the Ring and Tongelresestraat. Attention will also be paid to ‘more attractive and pleasant crossing options for pedestrians’.
Is there a traffic light where you regularly feel like you have to sprint to get to the other side? Report it here and share your experience.
View everything on our interactive map
On the map below you can see all the traffic lights and stories submitted from across the province. Click on the dots next to a place name and discover where Brabanders have to sprint to get to the other side in time.