Glastonbury To Install Pedestrian Safety Flags At 5 Crosswalks

GLASTONBURY, CT — Glastonbury will install high-visibility pedestrian crossing flags at five mid-block crosswalks next week as part of a pilot program aimed at improving pedestrian safety.

The flags are intended to make pedestrians more visible to approaching motorists, particularly at crossings with higher pedestrian volumes and vehicle speeds, the town said in an announcement Wednesday.

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The flags will be available at these locations:

• Main Street at Hollister Way North.
• Main Street north of Hubbard Street.
• New London Turnpike at Center Village and Fox Run Mall.
• New London Turnpike at Grove Street.
• Hubbard Street at Glastonbury High School and Youth & Family Services.

Pedestrians can take a flag from a holder before crossing, carry it where approaching drivers can see it and return it to a holder on the opposite side of the street for others to use.

The town cautioned that carrying a flag does not guarantee a driver has seen a pedestrian or will stop.

Pedestrians should use marked crosswalks, look both ways before entering a roadway and wait for approaching vehicles to stop. They should continue monitoring traffic while crossing, check each lane and avoid distractions such as cellphones.

Drivers are reminded to slow down near crosswalks, remain alert and yield to pedestrians as required by Connecticut law, regardless of whether a pedestrian is carrying a flag. Passing a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk is prohibited.

The town will collect feedback and evaluate the pilot program to determine whether the flags should remain in place or be added at other locations.

Glastonbury also is planning to install rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at the first four locations. The devices use flashing lights to alert motorists to pedestrians entering or using a crosswalk.

The flags will serve as an interim safety measure at those four crossings while the beacon installations move forward.