Crofton Residents Sound Off on Safety Issues

CROFTON, MD– Sunday morning in Baltimore, a cruise ship crashed into a gangway, causing the gangway to fall and damage three cars underneath, according to a statement by Carnival to WBAL editor Mia Rosas.

>>News Alerts: Subscribe to a free email newsletter: ANNAPOLIS•EDGEWATER•ODENTON

While worrying about death by rogue cruise ship isn’t something to lose sleep over, there are other possible dangers that affect Crofton residents.

Don’t forget to like Crofton Patch on Facebook!

We asked Patch Readers what they thought the biggest safety issues were in their town. Here’s a list of the most pressing problems, from break-ins to traffic jams:

• "The continuous building (residential and commercial) in our area, making the traffic a nightmare for all."
• "People not paying attention while driving and doing what they want"
• "Lack of sidewalks and crosswalks. And runners in the road where there are sidewalks!"
• "...I would like to see wider sidewalks/bike paths, and safer crosswalks in the Crofton area. I would love to walk to many of the great businesses nearby but is really unsafe to be on foot in certain parts."
• "Route 3 traffic is horrible and we need a pedestrian bridge - I've actually seen children crossing route 3 (without adult supervision) on foot and on bicycles near the shopping centers."
• "Traffic on Rte 3, especially people making Left/U-Turns at the newer signals where you are not supposed to."
• "Speeding vehicles on 424 near the middle school/Layton intersection"

According to HealthGrove, a medical news site, dying by assault is more common in Maryland than many other states. There are 6.7 deaths per 100,000 in the state from assault, compared to 3.2 deaths per 100,000 for the country.

And it’s not just assault. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 442 traffic fatalities in 2014, thankfully down from 614 deaths almost a decade earlier.

But it’s not all bad in Maryland!

From lucky moms winning the lottery to animal success stories, plenty of good happens in your neighborhood.

Just last week, a humpback whale was spotted breaching in the Chesapeake Bay. Humpback whales may soon be moving off the endangered species list, where they’ve been since 1970, after an increase in population.

Each week, Patch works to bring Crofton residents the latest news from their area. Some good, some bad and some delicious.

Is there an problem that wasn’t mentioned? Share it with us in the comments below or on our Crofton Patch Facebook page.