Route 1 tragedy mars end of summer

Labor Day traditionally signals the end of summer, the moment when Cape Region residents breathe a sigh of relief, ready for the busiest weeks of the year to come to an end. This year has unquestionably been busy, with plenty of hot days to draw people to the beaches.

Still, it’s difficult to look back on this summer without recalling the fatal and near-fatal accidents on Route 1.

In June, Valeria Dimitrova, 22, of Rehoboth was critically injured at Old Landing Road as she rode her bicycle on Route 1.

In early July, Russell “Rusty” Henman, 44, was fatally struck while riding a bike on Route 1, on his way out of Rehoboth to a nearby home he had recently purchased.

In August, two brothers were thrown from their motorcycle on Route 1 at Midway: Jeffrey Johnson, 34, died, while his brother, Michael Johnson, suffered serious injuries and was flown to Christiana.

As September begins, Cheryl M. Dunn-Winchester and Scott M. Emory, who was walking a bike, were struck and killed as they walked across Route 1 early Sunday morning.

Could these tragic accidents on Route 1 be mere coincidence? Or are there identifiable factors that together produce a serious hazard on the main artery of the Cape Region?

It must be said Transportation Department officials are working to improve safety: They’ve extended sidewalks and are improving Route 1 intersections. Two red light cameras appear to have improved traffic flow and reduced aggressive driving at intersections.

These initiatives are timely; still, this summer’s serious accidents show Route 1 remains treacherous. Significantly, alcohol has been implicated in three of the four deaths.

Still, an obvious next step is significantly improving lighting near all intersections to make cyclists and pedestrians more visible at night. In addition, painting reflective bicycle lanes for cyclists, especially at intersections, is an inexpensive way to alert drivers to watch for cyclists.

Officials should also consider landscaping placed to discourage pedestrians from crossing the highway other than at crosswalks.

It’s hard to tell what could prevent the next accident, but attention to safety on our primary access route is critical, not only for tourism and economic growth, but also for the health and safety of all who live here.