Charlotte Shields-Rossi | a&e editor

Last week marked the third time a pedestrian has been struck by a vehicle on or around campus this academic year.

A faculty member was struck by a car outside of the UMPC Cooper Fieldhouse on Forbes Avenue on Friday, according to Duquesne Police.

One day prior, a Duquesne student was hit by a vehicle at the intersection of Locust Street at McAnulty Drive. While the incident was still under investigation, Duquesne Police Chief Eric Holmes said that the glare from the morning sun could have been a contributing factor. The pedestrian was transported to UPMC Mercy conscious and awake, according to police.

These accidents come four months after another student was struck by a vehicle on campus between the Student Union and the Locust Garage on Sept. 3. Police said the victim in that incident sustained minor injuries and was transported to UPMC Mercy by police car.

Gabriel Welsch, vice president of marketing and communications, could not comment on conduct matters relating to the incidents but said that safety is the university’s top priority.

“This incident serves as an important reminder for all members of the Duquesne University community that when walking or driving on campus, remember to maintain awareness of others. The university consistently seeks to monitor and enhance safety measures on campus,” Welsch said in a statement to The Duke. “Vigilance by all members of the university community helps to ensure a safe environment for all.”

Aleksandar Stevanovic, associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh, studies traffic engineering and transportation planning. He said that pedestrian safety issues around college campuses are a national issue. With a culture in the United States that relies heavily on cars instead of public transport, Stevanovic said accidents can be more frequent.

“[College campuses] are not as safe as they could be, and not as pedestrian friendly as they could be,” Stevanovic said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 68,000 pedestrians were injured by vehicles nationwide in 2023. There is no specific statistic for accidents on college campuses.

Stevanovic said that the terrain in Pittsburgh, specifically the hills, can make for dangerous driving conditions, due to their impact on visibility.

Although Stevanovic is not familiar with Duquesne’s campus, when looking at a Google Maps image he noticed locations with minimal pedestrian crossing markings.

“Signs and markings mentally remind drivers that they are entering a safe pedestrian zone and that they should be driving more cautiously,” he said.

He said that enhancements such as extra signage and raised crosswalks can promote safety for pedestrians.

Welsch said that the university is refocusing their efforts to promote vehicle safety after the recent incidents.

He said that they plan to add enhancements to crossing markers and other pedestrian aids to promote driver and pedestrian safety. Additionally public safety officers will be focusing their traffic enforcements in the future, with fewer warnings and more citations for unsafe behavior.

“On an ongoing basis, the university invests in campus infrastructure refreshes and improvements,” Welsch said.

Student Government Association President Nick Miller saw the ambulances and police cars responding to the Thursday incident outside his apartment on campus, although he was unaware of what was happening at the time.

“There is always a possibility of an accident, but I think that they do a really good job of limiting it and making sure it doesn’t happen,” Miller said

Miller said the SGA does not have any plans to address pedestrian safety on campus. He said that although he has not directly heard any related safety complaints from students, he is confident that if the university will take it seriously.

“I have no doubt in my mind that they will do it without hesitation, even without student government being involved,” he said.

On Wednesday, public safety set up a table in the Duquesne Student Union to remind drivers and pedestrians alike to be aware of their surroundings.

“Like many college campuses, we have a condensed environment on campus, with pedestrians and drivers sharing the same space. Traffic safety is a shared responsibility. Faculty, staff and students alike need to be patient and follow the rules of the road while on campus and obey the 15-mph speed limit. For everyone, staying distraction free makes a real difference,” Welsch said.

Charlotte Shields-Rossi can be reached at shieldsrossic@duq.edu