|
Like hundreds of Utahns in the past month, Spanish Fork residents will be learning the hard way to watch out for pedestrians.
The Spanish Fork Police Department recently received an $8,400 grant funded by the Utah Highway Safety Department and the Utah State Health Department to educate the public about pedestrian safety.
"Over the next several weeks officers from the Spanish Fork Police Department will be selecting locations in the downtown area where pedestrian crossings are not regulated by a traffic light," according to a press release.
As part of the enforcement plan, a police officer in plain clothes will walk through a crosswalk to see if motorists will yield properly, and officers will cite those who do not. Utah law requires drivers to slow or stop for a pedestrian walking on the half of the road the car is on or if the pedestrian is too close in oncoming lanes.
Spanish Fork Mayor Joe Thomas said he believes the grant will be helpful to the city, as pedestrian safety is vital to the downtown area. Residents are encouraged to walk and shop at local businesses on Main Street, but Thomas said the danger to pedestrians inhibits retailers.
"One of the challenges that the downtown businesses have expressed is the traffic just moves too fast," he said.
Provo resident Glenn Jakins said he does not believe such enforcement techniques are a benefit to cities. Jakins said he witnessed a similar program in Provo as he drove down 900 East near Gold's Gym. Jakins said he saw a man standing on the side of the road and wondered why he was not moving down the sidewalk or trying to cross the street.
Thinking the man may be part of a police trap, Jakins said he slowed down and was prepared to stop when the officer stepped into the street. The cars in the next lane did not.
"Three cars on the left of me went past, and three cop cars pulled them all over," he said.
Jakins said it is clear when a pedestrian wants to cross the street, and drivers know to be careful. Putting a stationary officer on the side of the road can be deceiving to drivers because he does not act as though he will cross until the last minute. Such programs annoy drivers, but they do not educate, he said.
"If they want to educate us, run an education thing for the city," he said.
The method of enforcement by plain clothes officers may or may not end up being the best way to educate about pedestrian safety, but Thomas said something needs to be done to encourage drivers to watch out. Various other methods have been used, such as flags, but Thomas said the perfect method has not yet been found. Citations may make drivers feel victimized, but hopefully the enforcement will bring more awareness to the problem.
"I hope more people will be aware of it and just slow down," he said.
Sgt. Ted Tingey of the Utah Highway Patrol said the money for the grant comes from federal funding for safety and traffic. In turn, the state will turn the money over in several smaller grants to various agencies that can administer traffic safety programs. The Highway Safety Department distributes the money for the programs, such as Operation Crosswalk Enforcement, Click It or Ticket and Drunk Driving -- Over the Limit Under Arrest. Under a similar grant, Provo will recognize September as Green Ribbon Month.
Green Ribbon Month was started by the Davis County Safe Kids Coalition, and the city's grant will be used to increase student pedestrian safety by increasing enforcement around schools, repairing sidewalks and educating children about walking and biking safely.
The crosswalk safety program has already been started in cities across the state, including Spanish Fork and Salt Lake City. Lara Jones, spokeswoman for the Salt Lake City Police Department, said the city handed out more than 140 citations in the first days of putting their $10,000 in grant money to use. Although the department distributed numerous citations, Jones said the intent of the campaign was education.
"It's not so much a 'gotcha' for the folks who happen to go through the crosswalk that day and location," she said.
Jones said the dates and locations of enforcement were made public, and officers did not try to catch a motorist in the wrong. An officer simply walked through the crosswalk as a normal pedestrian would. The officers also did not jump out in front of cars that would not have time to stop, as it is against the law.
"A pedestrian cannot otherwise jump in front of a car," she said.
While officers were focused on educating drivers, Jones said it is important for pedestrians to understand they will lose any battle against a car. |
