Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed a lot of horns honking, breaks squealing and people yelling on William Street in front of the Auburn YMCA? I work nearby and all day long I hear honking and screaming. It's berserk.

Part of the problem is that the YMCA is a popular destination for young people. And children often scurry across the road without paying attention to traffic. I actually almost hit a little boy earlier this summer.

Thankfully my brakes stopped just before my heart did.

But I'm certainly not putting all of the blame on the wee ones. I've seen plenty of adults make some spectacularly stupid choices at that crosswalk.

Whether on foot or behind the wheel, everyone seems to be in a hurry to get into or out of that section of the road.

Earlier this week I saw two cars go around a school bus and a parked delivery truck.

Where on earth does anyone need to be that would prompt them to drive so recklessly? I can't imagine.

But the entire length of William Street, from Genesee to South Street can get pretty chaotic, particularly at 5 p.m.

And apart from impatient motorists and antsy pedestrians, it's an odd stretch of road to begin with.

For those unfamiliar with the junction, William Street runs into Lincoln Street on a bend just in front of the parking garage. To continue on William Street requires some slick maneuvering.

And it's not uncommon to see a novice driver severely screw up the turn, ending up on the wrong side of the partition.

These things happen. But on top of motorists always having to stop short at the crosswalk, that section is just an accident waiting to happen. And trust me, I've heard fenders crunch outside my office window.

I'm terrified that someday I'm going to look out and see a person, struck by a car. I'm worried that I'm going to hit someone.

My suggestion: I think there should be a light at the cross walk in front of the YMCA.

Preempting a severe or fatal accident makes more sense than ignoring the problem. With the number of school-aged children and disabled persons who utilize services at the YMCA, I think it would be a wise use of funds.

It's practical, and it could help save a life.

Estabrook's column appears

Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com