Crosswalk program designed to increase pedestrian safety

Crosswalk program designed to increase pedestrian safety

For the safety of pedestrians, the Sandpoint Police Department is, for the fourth consecutive year, conducting crosswalk emphasis enforcement programs beginning in August through September of this year.

This program is designed to increase pedestrian safety. According to statistics from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, collisions involving pedestrians increased by 9 percent in 2006; the number of pedestrians killed in motor vehicle collisions decreased by 11 percent. The city of Sandpoint had one fatality in 2006. Of all pedestrians involved in collisions in 2006, 99 percent received some degree of injury.

The crosswalk program heightens the safety of pedestrians in Sandpoint. This program makes a positive difference in the community.

The program began this week on Aug. 13, on First Avenue where plainclothes offers will enter the crosswalk and uniformed patrol officers may cite motorists who fail to stop for pedestrians as required by Idaho Code. Signs will be placed preceding the crosswalk to alert motorists of the emphasis program. Orange traffic cones will be set to mark a safe stopping distance before the crosswalk.

According to Idaho Code 49-702, drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk; and if another vehicle is stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian, the driver of any vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.

The efforts of the Sandpoint Police Department are designed to make pedestrian travel in Sandpoint safer for everyone. Please join us as a partner so we may continue to make Sandpoint truly a “walking town.”

R. MARK LOCKWOOD,

Police chief

Sandpoint Police Department