The has been awarded a Pedestrian Safety Grant through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division.
As part of the enforcement activities, a plainclothes officer will be on foot attempting to utilize the crosswalks and radio ahead to an officer in a cruiser of any violations. Crosswalk violations carry a $200 fine.
The total amount of the grant is $5,000. This will cover breakaway crosswalk signs like those on Route 123 in front of and a banner highlighting enforcement activities such as officers working at specific crosswalks ensuring motorists are adhering to the established pedestrian laws.
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Along Route 123 are several areas of concern for police, particularly near the schools and senior housing at 120 W. Main St.
“This also includes the very dangerous intersection in the center (Routes 123 and 140) with the traffic lights,” said Norton Police Sergeant Jacob Dennett. “There are pedestrian lights there too, but traffic volume there is extremely heavy and the intersection, which is configured to resemble two more than one, is quite complex with all that passes through there.”
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In 2009, there were at least four crashes that occurred at crosswalks where no pedestrians were involved and therefore not reported. These instances occur where one vehicle stops for a pedestrian and/or crosswalk and that vehicle is struck by other motorists coming from behind that are not paying attention and fail to slow or stop in time.
“There are numerous other near collisions of the same sort that we are sometimes notified of but that are often not reported to us at all,” Dennett said.
From 2007 to 2009, there has only been one report of a pedestrian being injured by a car while in a crosswalk. There have been two crash fatalities, but they did not take place in a crosswalk.
“Neither of the fatalities involved pedestrians in crosswalks, but this goes to show that motorists need to be aware of and show extra caution when coming upon pedestrians, whether walking, riding, etc., at all times and in all locations,” Dennett said.
Crashes
Year/Category
Pedestrian
Bicycle
Moped-Type
2007
1
1
0
2008
1
0
0
2009
0
0
0
Injuries
Year/Category
Pedestrian
Bicycle
Moped-Type
2007
1
0
0
2008
0
0
0
2009
0
0
0
Fatalities
Year/Category
Pedestrian
Bicycle
Moped-Type
2007
0
1
0
2008
1
0
0
2009
0
0
0
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