Mayor Gettel Urges Shared Responsibility After Two Auto-Pedestrian Accidents Leave One Dead in Midvale

Midvale Monthly with Mayor Gettel: Pedestrian Safety a Shared Responsibility After Recent Tragedies

Midvale Mayor Gettel recently addressed the community regarding pedestrian safety, emphasizing the shared responsibility of both drivers and walkers following two significant auto-pedestrian accidents in the past month. One incident tragically resulted in a fatality, while the other left a Midvale resident with life-altering injuries.

Mayor Gettel, known for her walks along the scenic Jordan River Trail and the developing canal trail system through Midvale's neighborhoods, highlighted the personal impact of these events. “These incidents have shaken our city and serve as a sobering reminder that pedestrian safety is not an abstract policy discussion; it is about our neighbors, our families, and the simple act of moving through our community safely,” she stated.

The Mayor noted that Midvale is not alone in facing these challenges, pointing to recent fatal and near-fatal pedestrian accidents in nearby communities such as Salt Lake City, Millcreek, West Valley City, and Sandy. This regional trend underscores the critical need for roadways to safely accommodate all users: drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

A fundamental aspect of pedestrian safety, according to Mayor Gettel, is crosswalk safety. Crosswalks are designed to provide predictable and protected spaces for crossing busy streets, including those in Midvale's historic downtown. For motorists, this means slowing down, remaining vigilant, and yielding to pedestrians as legally required. For pedestrians, it involves crossing at designated locations, obeying safety signals, and making themselves as visible as possible.

However, Mayor Gettel also acknowledged a difficult truth: pedestrians remain physically vulnerable even when they have the right of way and a walk signal. “In any collision between a person and a vehicle, the pedestrian will always lose,” she cautioned. This reality makes situational awareness critical for pedestrians. She advised walkers to remain alert, look left, right, and left again, and make eye contact with approaching drivers to ensure they are seen. “Do not assume that because you have the legal right of way, you are seen,” she added.

Distraction was identified as a major risk. Mayor Gettel urged both drivers and pedestrians to put down their phones and eliminate other distractions, especially when crossing major streets and intersections. “A few seconds of diverted attention can have irreversible consequences,” she warned. Drivers are particularly encouraged to approach intersections and crosswalks with heightened awareness, scanning for pedestrians and anticipating movement.

Midvale City is committed to improving infrastructure, evaluating traffic patterns, and prioritizing safety enhancements. However, Mayor Gettel stressed that infrastructure alone cannot solve the problem. It requires a collective commitment to attentiveness, courtesy, and care from everyone in the community.

On behalf of Midvale City, Mayor Gettel extended her deepest condolences to the families of the two pedestrians recently struck. She concluded by urging all residents to honor those affected by recognizing that safety on our streets is a shared responsibility. “Whether we’re behind the wheel or on foot, each of us must commit to vigilance, patience, and care every time we approach a crosswalk, enter an intersection, or travel through our community,” she said.