There is an ongoing problem both with the “townies” and especially the Middlebury College students. I often pass folks walking or running with their back to the traffic and some even are deaf because of headphones. Many of these walk/run people are on Weybrige Road, Horse Farm Road, Pearson Road or Routes 30 and 125.
In the late 90s I checked the Vermont stats and found that every pedestrian fatality, as of then, had been hit from behind. Even one in Rutland that was on the sidewalk (Bad luck there).
I read a story in the Washington Post that included research showing that walking on the shoulder of the road against traffic is statistically much safer than walking or running with your back to traffic; plus it is the law in some states that you have to face traffic. Read the story here: tinyurl.com/y7z4gl2b.
We could all feel better if the word got out and we saved a life even if we never would know it.
John Pratt, New Haven