Speaking from a commuter standpoint, it is infuriating trying to get around the Drillfield, especially during a class change period. It is not uncommon for commuters to wait in their cars for nine minutes. Nine minutes! That driver sits there emitting carbon monoxide as wave of students after wave of students passes in front of him.

That same driver watches the students walking along the sidewalk and sees them reach their destinations on foot before he even creeps an inch forward in his Toyota Corolla.

Every once in a while a lowly pedestrian will hesitate at the edge of the road sensing a gap in the flood of people meandering to class. He or she will stutter-step, deliberating whether a car would be able to make it through in time, but if no one around him or her follows suit he or she quickly continues on into the street.

Drivers are people, too. They have just as many obligations, appointments, meetings and classes to get to on time as the next person. Why should they be so disrespected?

Shouldn't respect be mutual? When pedestrians show complete disregard for the traffic that they are holding up, it tends to produce aggressive drivers. While this is by no means condoned, sometimes it is necessary, but not for everyone. For example, the Blacksburg Transit bus drivers are held to strict schedules. If they get too held up it causes repercussions later down the line.

There is a maverick bus driver for the BT who simply doesn't put up with pedestrian behavior. Startling one-track-minded walkers near and far, this driver makes use of his horn as he approaches crosswalks. He honks repetitively as he creeps forward through an intersection. Once he has everyone's attention, and they are all staring at him standing stone still with their mouths open in shock, he bustles on through the crowd and down the road.

So many times pedestrians pop out into traffic, not even at a crosswalk, around the Drillfield without so much as a glance to the left or right. That sort of behavior would never fly on the streets of Richmond or Washington, D.C.

We are spoiled on the streets of Blacksburg, compared to those in D.C. Anyone walking around the Capital would be greeted by blaring horns, screeching tires and furious gestures. Tech teaches students so much in four years, and not just academics. During their collegiate years, people learn new things about life and relationships that they simply couldn't learn while still at home. They are socialized. They learn how to properly act in, and react to, society.

Silly as it may sound, one of the things students develop while in college is their behavior, as a pedestrian, toward traffic. Blacksburg is a town like no other. The big, bad outside world is not as forgiving toward careless and oblivious pedestrian behavior.

A study conducted in 2005 by the Inova Regional Trauma Center found that most pedestrian accidents occur when walkers cross streets outside intersections and that the responsibility for crashes is split fairly evenly.

Drivers were cited in 52 percent of the accidents. So, again, why do pedestrians at Tech feel that they are so superior to drivers and must constantly hold the right-of-way no matter where they are on campus?

According to the National Highway Traffic Association and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, on average, a pedestrian is injured in a traffic accident every eight minutes in this country.

Tech has been the setting of too many automobile-pedestrian accidents.

In February, a car struck four students as they walked near the intersection of Duck Pond Drive and Washington Street, killing one.

In March, a student was hit while crossing West Campus Drive.

In an effort to reduce these incidents, those walking around campus need to take a bit more responsibility in looking out for their own safety.

An undergraduate research program called "Catch the Wave" was implemented in March at Tech. The premise of the initiative is that both driver and pedestrian express recognition of each other when they interact.

Eye contact, a friendly acknowledging wave or a flash of the lights at night are all acceptable forms of communication between pedestrian and driver.

This program, designed for mutual responsibility, is exactly what campus needs in a time when most of the blame, responsibility and attention are directed at drivers. Let's hope that people catch on to "Catch the Wave" and the program doesn't end with a wipeout.

The editorial board is composed of David Grant, Laurel Colella, David McIlroy, Jackie Peters and Sally Bull.

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