Orthodox rabbis emphasize pedestrian safety | Local News | stljewishlight.com

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

If you see Orthodox Jews walking in University City on a Friday night, you might notice them wearing something else beside a headcovering, suit or a dress. You might notice them wearing reflective vests, belts or arm bands.

And that, of course, is the point: that you notice them. Orthodox Jews walk in greater numbers on Shabbat than the rest of the week because they observe the Jewish law that prohibits them driving or riding in a car on that day. That can also put them at greater risk of being hit by a car.

“The challenge we have in University City is that many of the streets don’t have sidewalks so many people walk in the street, and they need to wear reflective clothing so that cars can see them,” said Rabbi Moshe Shulman of Young Israel of St. Louis.

Over the last decade, rabbis in St. Louis and across the country have stepped up their efforts to encourage people to wear reflective clothing. The increased emphasis has been in response to pedestrians being hit by cars. . . .

Rabbis in University City have also met with the the local police department about drivers who don’t stop at crosswalks. Over the summer, the police “conducted a crosswalk campaign all throughout University City to address the issue,” Capt. Fredrick Lemons of University City Police Department stated in an email. “We believe it was informative and a [good] way to get the message out about the crosswalk safety for [drivers] as well as pedestrians.”

Link: 

Orthodox rabbis emphasize pedestrian safety | Local News | stljewishlight.com