Drivers have life-or-death responsibilities

My heart breaks for the family and friends of Lisa Styles, the Mt. Lebanon woman who was killed when the driver of an SUV ignored a stop sign and ran her over, according to police ("Woman Dies After Being Struck by SUV," June 30).

Wednesday's article includes quotes from another Mt. Lebanon resident who vows to be more vigilant while walking in the future.

Yes, we all need to be careful, and I understand that woman's concerns.

But where are the similar vows of greater care from drivers? Here are a few to get us started:

"From now on I will stop at stop signs." Or, "I will drive more slowly through intersections." Here's a radical one: "I will recognize that pedestrians have the right of way."

Too often we assume the burden rests entirely on the person outside the car. In addition to being a pedestrian and a cyclist, I am a driver. When I operate a machine that weighs several thousand pounds and has an accelerator, there's a very big burden on me.

MARY FRANZEN
Park Place