A few steps from there, Luis Carlos HernandezAn elderly man walks as fast as he can, he says that he should always cross the street like this to avoid being hit by one of the cars that turns right at that point on the avenues. Melchor Ocampo Avenue and Ascension Bayalso in the Cuauhtémoc municipality, and according to “Analysis of road accidents in Mexico”, carried out by the organization Mission Zero with data from the insurance company AXA, it is one of the 100 most dangerous intersections in the country.
“I always try to cross with more people. Sometimes when no one else is crossing, I have to walk faster because the cars turn around and I don’t want to get run over,” says the man, who at 68 years old also has to walk through this dangerous intersection.
Both Ana María and Luis Carlos believe that crossing at the zebra crossing makes them safer when crossing the street, however, they agree that drivers and motorcyclists do not always respect them.
“They don’t respect the lines… now it’s where we have to cross, maybe if there were traffic lights for pedestrians it would help us more,” said Mrs. Ana María, showing her annoyance because there was a car parked at the intersection.
“I always try to cross the lines, but I don’t always do it; sometimes it’s wherever I am,” says Luis Carlos.
At these intersections, people must be careful of cars, especially those that turn corners despite the red light, but also of bicycles, because while Mr. Luis Carlos was giving his testimony, a young man who was walking in that same place was almost run over by a cyclist.
“Look, keep your head up!” the cyclist shouted to the young man.
(Photo: Brenda Yañez)
Thus, between cars parked on zebra crossings and the complaints of motorists and cyclists, thousands of pedestrians in Mexico City cross the most dangerous intersections in both the capital and the country every day.
