Stop right now, thank you very much

A new coat of paint never looked so good.

Town of Stephenville workers were recently out and about repainting various signs and markers on the town's roads and intersections.

Hopefully residents and visitors to Stephenville will now know exactly where they shouldn't park - and avoid that dreaded ticket from the town's municipal enforcement officer.

Of course, some signs are in pretty obvious spots - such as warnings not to park too close to a fire hydrant or intersection. But the newly painted lines will help people understand the importance of not blocking certain areas with their parked vehicles. And if they do park in these spots, at least they'll have a better understanding of why there's a ticket flapping under a wiper blade.

And it's good to see crosswalks repainted, too. People jaywalking across Main or other streets has been quite the dangerous practice, especially during busy times or inclement weather.

The town really should have kept a better eye on deteriorating crosswalk markers, but at least now they're freshly repainted and obvious to everyone. The Georgian has noticed a fair number of people taking those few extra paces in order to reach a crosswalk, instead of just traipsing out into traffic.

That said, both pedestrians and drivers should now take heed and pay closer attention to the town's crosswalks from now on, so everybody can get where they're going safe and sound.

Speaking of pedestrian safety, there's another area of concern the Georgian has noticed - especially with the increased number of people getting out to enjoy the summer weather.

Walking down Main Street or other thoroughfares can be hazardous, with vehicles pulling into or out from side streets or parking lots - without checking to see if pedestrians might be walking by.

A person who has to move between vehicles or veer off a sidewalk because a vehicle won't stop long enough to let them move past is downright dangerous. Another vehicle might not see the pedestrian, or vice versa, causing an accident and needless pain for all involved.

It only takes a couple of seconds to let somebody walk down the sidewalk. Be courteous and let the walker have the right away.

Overall, a bit of common sense and good manners can go a long way in making sure everybody stays safe while out on our roadways this summer and all year long.