Crosswalk safety effort under way
Two signs located at Pine Street and First Avenue warn pedestrians and drivers about the city’s crosswalk emphasis program, which will continue through September. (Photo by CONOR CHRISTOFFERSON)
SANDPOINT — For pedestrians, crossing downtown streets during the summer tourism season is reminiscent of a live-action version of the classic video game Frogger.
One tentative step onto a crosswalk might result in a pedestrian getting buzzed by a speeding tractor-trailer or car full of inattentive teenagers.
To improve pedestrian safety, the Sandpoint Police Department is once again employing its Crosswalk Emphasis program. In the program, a plainclothes officer walks across the street at a sanctioned crosswalk, while another officer watches from the sidewalk. If a driver fails to yield for the pedestrian, it will be pulled over and either warned or cited.
Even though officers aren’t wearing uniforms, drivers have ample warning that the program is in progress.
Shortly before entering the emphasis zone, drivers are notified via two large signs that a pedestrian safety program is under way. Vehicles are also given a 178-foot buffer zone prior to the crosswalk. Officers will not enter the crosswalk once a vehicle passes through the buffer zone, which ensures that every driver is given the space to yield to crossing pedestrians.
During last year’s program, officers recorded 2,077 vehicles passing through the emphasis zone, with 1,832 yielding to pedestrians and 245 failing to stop. An 88 percent yield rate is adequate, but the department believes that through education, that number can improve, said Officer Chris Giese of the city’s traffic unit.
The program will continue through September, which will enable the department to focus its attention on the months when pedestrian safety is most paramount.
“Because it’s tourist season and people are out shopping, pedestrians sometimes aren’t as cautious and don’t pay enough attention to the crosswalk,” Giese said.
The emphasis program is meant to educate both pedestrians and drivers about the dangers of being careless at crosswalks, and Giese said response from both groups has been supportive so far.
“All the folks we’ve seen out here have been very positive and supportive of the program. A lot of them have actually thanked us for being out here,” Giese said.
Giese said the department plans on carrying out four more operations, which are funded by a grant from the Idaho Transportation Department, before the program concludes for the season.