Boston Bicyclists and Others Address Civilian Flaggers with City Councilor Breadon

Leaders in the Allston/Brighton bicycling community met with their city councilor Liz Breadon on Monday Morning, October 3 seeking her support for an office of civilian flaggers. They brought their safety concerns for lack of proper guidance around some construction sites. This endangers pedestrians, bicyclists and more, they explain.

The civilian flagger is a key role in keeping residents safe at a construction zone bordering traffic. It is a skilled position that increases visibility of traffic issues, construction vehicles and personnel so that motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and workers are all safe.

NHTSA hosts safety concerns

The danger to a community when there is no such person at a construction site is serious enough that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlights their need. According to NHTSA, in 2020 170 pedestrians and bicyclists lost their lives in this country at work zone crashes. The administration now hosts an annual work zone safety week to call attention to these dangers.

Without civilian flaggers, pedestrians, bicyclists and wheelchair users and others can be at a loss for the safe direction around a construction site. Sidewalks and other passages removed or blocked leave citizens unaware of what is the proper way to continue to their destination. What makes the situation more dangerous is that many drivers are far more distracted today.

Distracted drivers and construction zone crashes

According to a University of Missouri study distracted drivers are twenty-nine times more likely to engage in a construction zone crash or near crash than those who are not distracted. The law firm of Steelman, Gaunt and Crowley of Missouri explains that distraction does not just mean texting and driving but simply speaking with a passenger or changing a radio station also can increase the danger.

According to Alex Shames of the Boston Cyclists Union, who helped organize and who attended the meeting, in 2021 injuries sustained in work zone crashes accounted for 37% of all construction worker deaths. These facts highlight the need, they explain, for more civilian flaggers.

Among the others at the Zoom Meeting were Mandy Wilkens and Malaysia Fuller-Staten also of the Boston Cyclists Union. Members of MassBike assisted in planning and organization for the meeting.

Alex Shames explained that Councilor Braedon seemed excited and open by the idea of this city office.