There have been four significant property damage accidents reported to campus safety since the beginning of the semester, with the latest one involving a driver completely disregarding a stop sign, according to Shad Crowe, vice president for Facilities and Emergency Management. 

Crowe said there has also been a significant increase in weekly concerns from students, faculty, staff and visitors involving near-accident reports such as failure to stop at stop signs and speeding. 

“The complaints have included persons reporting almost being struck by a vehicle when entering a crosswalk (pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks on campus and in NY State in general),” Crowe said. “They’ve also reported near collisions attempting to turn into a parking lot, walking through a parking lot, or turning to enter/exit the campus. The number of complaints have increased significantly this semester compared to previous years.”

Crowe said that four accidents might not seem like much but campus safety typically sees four or five for an entire academic year. 

“When operating a vehicle on the campus, consider how your operation might be viewed by someone witnessing you drive past. OR, how you might react watching someone else drive the way you are driving,” Crowe said. “Every person who drives a vehicle on campus should consider the importance of the safety of others who are also driving or walking.” 

The Campus Safety team’s constant messaging of “if you see something, say something,” applies to motor vehicle operation on campus and off. 

“If you observe someone driving too fast, running stop signs, passing vehicles, or operating in an erratic manner – please report it to Campus Safety as quickly as you can (315.792.3046),” Crowe said. 

Crowe provided information to collect, if safe to obtain, that is helpful when reporting a vehicle. 

“The campus safety team may ask for direction of travel (where was the vehicle when the offense was witnessed, and which way did it go), license plate number (even a partial plate is helpful), color of vehicle, general description (truck, car, 2 door, 4 door), and general description of driver and other occupants if possible,” Crowe said. 

There are various steps campus safety is taking to combat this safety concern such as “general patrol and observations by officers at intersections” and “use of camera systems in which several are equipped with license plate readers at entry/exit points, stop signs, and along the campus drive and inside parking lots.” 

“Campus Safety Director Jay LaFayette has also established specific areas on campus drive with known distances between non-moveable points,” Crowe said. “By establishing these points and then calculating the time it takes the vehicle to pass between these two points, Director LaFayette and the campus safety team can verify the speed at which the vehicle is traveling using simple math.” 

Utica students expressed some concerns with reckless driving on campus. 

“ Students are seen driving what looks like 40 mph and I see people blow by stop signs all the time,” senior Arissa Rendino said. 

Senior Morgan Kelly said campus safety has “cracked down on tickets this year” but before she did observe reckless driving. 

“I know at times we are running behind and are trying not to be late for class or other events,” Crowe said. “It is at those moments, taking a deep breath and remembering your responsibility to yourself to be safe is most important.”