Dear motorist,

We saw you on Main Street, plowing through the crosswalk as our business neighbor tried to cross.

Friends, those crosswalks are there for a purpose: to provide a safe pedestrian lane from one side of the street to the other.

Virginia law states,

“The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway: 

“1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block; 

“2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block; 

“3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.” 

Main Streets in both Gloucester and Mathews are taking great strides toward becoming attractive shopping destinations for visitors. Locals know to be wary while crossing Main. A visitor spend...