Since the start of the school year just three weeks ago, there have been far too many close calls at intersection of Hibbard Road and Westmoor Trail/Westmoor Road involving children, pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles. This issue is particularly urgent for the many children who cross Hibbard Road to get to and from Hubbard Woods School each day as well as on the weekends to attend sporting events at the Skokie playfields, AC Nielsen, Little Duke Field and the Winnetka Ice Rink. 

With children and families regularly crossing the street, speeding vehicles and distracted drivers have made this intersection increasingly concerning. The current "Yield to Pedestrians" signs are simply not sufficient. Unless a pedestrian physically steps into the roadway or waves to get a driver's attention, many (most!) vehicles do not stop.  The situation has reached a point where simply hoping drivers will slow down or recognize the crossing is no longer sufficient.  

The Village has already installed blinking signals at three other Hibbard Road crossings, Pine, Spruce and Cherry, to support pedestrian safety near the playfields. Westmoor sees comparable foot and bike traffic from families walking to Hubbard Woods School and deserves the same level of protection.

We are calling on the Village to take immediate steps to improve this crossing, including seriously considering a pedestrian-activated flashing beacon/RRFB and/or a stop sign.  According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, RRFBs have been shown to increase driver yielding rates significantly, up to 88% and reduce pedestrian crashes by as much as 47%.  Some may raise concerns that a flashing signal could give children a false sense of security. RRFBs are designed to work alongside, not instead of, driver education and enforcement, and national data shows they meaningfully reduce pedestrian crashes even when paired with these other measures.  The Village of Winnetka recently took steps to improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure across the community, and addressing this crossing aligns with their ongoing commitment to safety. 

This request has been made multiple times before and we've heard the Village's reasoning for why it will not be done, including cost; these are responses we no longer find adequate. When the safety of our community —especially our children — is at stake, there should be no reason we cannot take action to make this intersection safer.  In Winnetka, renowned for its vibrant community life and beautiful surroundings, we have a responsibility to ensure that these safety standards are met.

Please sign this petition to help us advocate for these essential safety improvements and protect our loved ones.