City Uses Facebook To Teach Drivers Traffic Laws

ALPHARETTA, GA — You may have noticed the city of Alpharetta taking a more active stance in informing its followers about the rules of the road regarding vehicles and pedestrians. The city is using its Facebook account to educate motorists about their "role and responsibility regarding pedestrians," Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said.

Over the two weeks, the city has uploaded various posts with graphics instructing how drivers must respond to pedestrians using the crosswalk to get to where they are going.

"ATTENTION MOTORISTS: Put your mobile devices down, pay attention to the road, slow down, and yield to pedestrians in our crosswalks," the message leading each posts read.

Drinkard said it's important Alpharetta puts effort in educating the public about these laws, as the city is pursuing ways it can become a more walkable community.

"This is all the more important as mobile devices are greatly increasing the number of motorists who are driving while distracted," he added.

Some of the behaviors Drinkard said the city is calling out include failing to yield to pedestrians in mid-block crosswalks and drivers "bullying" pedestrians by making turning movements.

"This is especially true in downtown Alpharetta," he said. "The mid-block crossings on Roswell Street at Old Roswell Street and on Canton Street near School Drive are problematic, and 'bullying' behavior by motorists at the intersection of Main Street and Academy Street/Milton Avenue is an all too common occurrence."

Alpharetta does utilize special enforcement initiatives at crosswalks. It also has installed warning paddles at some of its mid-block crossings to bolster visibility and "are exploring other means of calling more attention to crosswalks not located at signalized intersections," the assistant city administrator added.

He also said the city has and will continue to "promote" reduced vehicular speeds in downtown and other areas that see high foot traffic through design initiatives such as narrowing vehicle travel lanes and on-street parking. Drinkard also said the city will continue to consider lowering posted speed limits in certain areas when allowed by the state Department of Transportation.

Tell us: what do you think of the city's campaign?

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