Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Salem Police to Conduct Crosswalk Safety Actions this Summer

If you're reading this blog, you don't need reminding, but most drivers don't seem to know or choose to ignore that "Oregon Law also states that every intersection should be considered to have a crosswalk, whether marked or not."

Hydraulic autoism considers this pedestrian impedance, unwanted delay and turbulence in the system of unimpeded traffic flow. But people on foot are legitimate road users, and have a claim to the public space and the use of the roadway.

What was true in May 2014, is even more true this year:
The Crosslands, David McGregor, and Travis Lane
From the Salem PD:
Salem Police To Conduct Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Campaign - 06/01/15

As the weather becomes warmer and days become longer, we typically see more pedestrians out and about at various times of the day and night, and pedestrian safety issues become even more important. As a result, the Salem Police Department traffic unit will be conducting pedestrian safety enforcement and education campaigns throughout the City during the summer months.
Police conducting crosswalk safety enforcement
at 17th and Nebraska a couple of years ago
The campaigns will utilize plain clothes officers who will be crossing streets at crosswalk locations throughout the City, and video cameras will be used to record violations. Those who are contacted will be able to view the violation on video.

Oregon law requires all drivers to stop prior to entering a crosswalk for pedestrians who are crossing the street in a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Drivers are required to stop if a pedestrian is either in the lane in which the driver's vehicle is traveling or in a lane adjacent to the lane in which the driver's vehicle is traveling.

Marked crosswalks may be located at or between intersections and are recognized by solid or dashed white lines. Oregon Law also states that every intersection should be considered to have a crosswalk, whether marked or not. Additionally, a vehicle may not legally pass another vehicle that is stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk for a pedestrian. Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and for passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk are class B violations and carry a fine of up to $260.00.

This safety campaign is in partnership with Oregon Impact in order to address pedestrian and crosswalk safety through education and enforcement.
Postscript

Geez. The implied editorial stance and optics in the paper is a little odd. More along the lines of the "jaywalk empire" stance...and for a while online it was explicitly about the scourge of the jaywalker - though fortunately that headline didn't last very long.

Will there be any nighttime actions?

The word "jaywalk" never appears; it's about "drivers"!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Portland Police and Portland Bureau of Transportation conduct crosswalk enforcements:

See a video here

Salem Breakfast on Bikes said...

Here's an update from Salem PD:

"On June 8, the Salem Police Department conducted a Pedestrian Enforcement Project in NE Salem from 0730-1330. During that six hour period, 97 citations and warnings were issued. Of those citations and warnings, 65 were for failing to yield to a pedestrian in marked crosswalks.

On June 9, the Salem Police Department conducted a two-hour targeted enforcement project addressing pedestrian violations (both vehicles and pedestrians) in the Downtown Core of Salem. During this project, 23 citations and warnings were issued. Of those citations and warnings, several were issued to pedestrians for failing to obey a traffic control device.
"