Every morning as I see children and families walk to school in Ventura, CA, I am reminded of the perilous crossing at E. Shoshone St and Ventura Ave. In our vibrant community, many families and children traverse these streets daily, yet they do so at significant risk. My children belong to this community, this neighborhood, and the thought of an accident occurring is a constant concern.

The absence of traffic lights and proper pedestrian signage at this intersection has led to dangerous situations where cars speed through, unaware of the pedestrians who need to cross. In fact, there have been reports of people being run over due to the traffic oversight in this area, transforming a simple crossing into a hazardous endeavor.

The statistics are alarming. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2019. As residents of Ventura, we cannot let our community become a part of these statistics. Ensuring our children and families have safe streets to walk on should be a priority.

The installation of traffic lights at E. Shoshone St and Ventura Ave is a tangible and necessary step. It will mitigate the risk of accidents and provide peace of mind to every parent, including myself, whose children cross there daily.

This is not just an appeal for infrastructure; this is a call to protect our most vulnerable – our children. By raising our voices together, we can urge our local authorities to take immediate action for the safety and future well-being of our community.

Please sign this petition to demand the city of Ventura to install traffic lights at this critical intersection. Your signature could be the change needed to save a life.