Editorial: The dangers of fundraising on the roadway
It's tough to argue with the logic behind the Schaumburg village board's decision to boost restrictions on the roadways where volunteers can solicit money for charity.
The entire lengths of the busiest roads through the village and some other key intersections will be off limits to solicitors starting in 2019 in an effort to improve pedestrian safety.
If you've ever driven on the major thoroughfares such as Golf or Higgins roads in Schaumburg, you know why. Combine heavy traffic moving at speeds of 40 to 45 mph, dual left-turn lanes and a plethora of businesses and shopping along with drivers hurrying to get from one destination to another and you've got an area that isn't conducive to solicitors standing on a median or curb trying to collect spare change.
It's not just a problem in Schaumburg. It's a problem throughout the suburbs.
“People have said, ‘Why do we allow it? It's unsafe,” Schaumburg Trustee Tom Dailly said “I think for the most part, people are cautious when they're out there. But at some of these high-volume (intersections), it's not safe to be standing out on those curbs. ”
Trustee Frank Kozak said his son was injured three years ago while soliciting money for Misericordia when he was struck by a vehicle that ran a red light.
Still, we empathize with legitimate charity and service organizations that see those intersections as a source for contributions to fund the good they do. Their efforts are important and we urge Schaumburg officials to be flexible and open to other fundraising ideas these groups will likely develop.
The new restrictions, which were approved by the village board last week, are based on a six-month study of data and safety criteria, including intersection size, traffic volume and accident rates. The changes don't ban all intersections, but expand a list already in place.
The additions are the entire lengths of Golf, Higgins, Irving Park and Barrington roads, and the intersections of Martingale Road and Corporate Crossing, Schaumburg and Roselle roads and the Route 53 East Frontage Road at Woodfield Road.
The winter prohibition on soliciting that starts Nov. 1 will be one month longer, to end March 31.
Schaumburg officials said the study was intended to determine which intersections are safe for pedestrians and which were not, rather than where pedestrians contribute to accidents.
What's clear is conditions are ripe for an injury or worse in an area where many large shopping and corporate centers create a magnet for heavy traffic and groups that raise money to help others. Cooperation and creative thinking are needed to find alternatives.