She’s a nurse, so she wants to help.
Laguna Beach resident Madolyn Maris is fed up with pedestrian deaths and accidents in her hometown, so she is promoting a simple yet effective idea: Shine your light.
“If you’re walking across the street, either Glenneyre or Pacific Coast Highway, how about turn the flashlight on your cell phone,” she said. “Everybody carries a cell phone. Maybe it will help save your life.”
Maris organized a recent crosswalk demonstration at Pearl Street and South Coast Highway, site of the Aug. 11, 2022 death of Stan Isaacs. A group of people periodically walked across the flashing intersection with their lighted cell phones and still cars would have to slam on their brakes.
“Of course, hearing about the pedestrian deaths and being a resident here in town, it just got kind of crazy,” she said. “I had to do something. Even if it doesn’t catch on, let’s put a spotlight on a subject and get people to talk about it.”
Maris plans to organize another crosswalk awareness campaign. In the meantime, she is also considering approaching the City Council to enlist support.
She admits she is not a traffic expert but she does know about the fragility of life and death, and pedestrian deaths are just not acceptable.
“I don’t know what the solution is, but something needs to be done. Laguna shouldn’t be known for pedestrian deaths.”
For more details on her campaign, you can follow her on Instagram.
