Salem Residents Sound Off on Safety Issues

Salem, MA - Summer’s nearly here, and with each walk in the park, day at the pool and backyard BBQ comes the risk of snakebites, drowning and fires, but don’t worry! There’s no reason to stay cooped up inside all season.

Patch put together a list of summer safety tips to keep you safe and having fun while the weather’s warm. Make sure to give snakes their distance and always swim with a buddy to stay carefree during the dog days.

Keeping these tips in mind, there are other possible dangers that affect Salem residents year round.

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:

• "Walking across Salem, unavoidably walking past parts where I keep hearing about homeless people fighting and drug deals going down."

• "I don't really know the extent of homelessness and addiction programs that are available in Salem, but it seems more effort should start there since many of the recent incidents around town seem to be related to those issues."

• "Seeing junkies shoot up in the parking lot of the old Hess by the point. The walking dead junkies begging for money at every corner store."

• "Drivers turning while the crosswalk lights are on."

• "Crossing against traffic signals. They have been installed for everyone's safety."

• "Drivers who only look one way on intersection when turning right"

• "Drivers barreling through crosswalks."

• "Jaywalkers"

• "Texting/reading while driving"

• "Most pedestrians are clueless how signals work. They expect instant gratification. They keep pressing and pressing... "

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