San José
Steps Up Enforcement
To Improve Pedestrian Safety
Drivers and pedestrians urged to use greater caution on city streets
San José, California ---- In response
to an increase in pedestrian-related traffic accidents, the City of San
José will be stepping up enforcement and asking drivers and pedestrians
to use greater caution in an effort to improve safety on San José streets.
"Safe streets for our residents is of of our highest priorities,
but we also need help from the public to achieve this goal," said
Mayor Ron Gonzales. "Effective public education, aggressive traffic
enforcement, and good traffic engineering are important, but 'street smart'
drivers and pedestrians are essential for traffic safety in our neighborhoods."
Pedestrians are encouraged to not only look both ways before entering
the street, but to also maintain eye contract with drivers the entire
time they are crossing the roadway.
"When entering a crosswalk, there is an expectation by pedestrians
that motorists will see them and stop, once they are in the roadway,"
said James Helmer, director of the City's Transportation Department.
"Unfortunately, as recent tragic events have shown, this doesn't
always happen. Our goal is to have pedestrians be more aware of their
surroundings when they step out into the street and to be actively watching
for oncoming vehicles the entire time they are within the crosswalk. It
is critical that we create this heightened awareness among pedestrians
if we are to prevent future fatalities."
San José Police Chief Bill Lansdowne agrees, "Obviously, drivers
need to be more alert, slow down, and exercise greater caution around
pedestrians, but we are also asking pedestrians to be especially careful
when crossing the street."
Backing up the need for behavior change on the part of both drivers and
pedestrians will be additional enforcement at signalized intersections,
in crosswalks and at mid-block locations.
Stepped up enforcement targeted toward both drivers and pedestrians will
begin immediately to reinforce laws already in place to ensure community
safety, "So, if you're thinking of jaywalking to get across the street
quicker: don't," advises Lansdowne.
When people make the decision to jaywalk, they don't connect it to the
fact that they could get killed doing that. We want to remind them that
that is exactly what can happen. Most of all, we want to prevent that
from happening."
Drivers are also urged to pay particular attention at crosswalks, even
if they have a green light. If a pedestrian incorrectly attempts to cross
against the signall, it doesn't matter at that point who has the right
of way. The goal becomes very clear: avoid hitting the pedestrian.
One of the top causes of pedestrian-related accidents in San José is
the right turn movement at signalized intersections. Accidents often occur
when drivers look to the left for oncoming traffic, while executing a
right turn movement. Drivers are cautioned to stop (it's the law), look
to the left, then to the right again, before proceeding to turn right.
Drivers are also urged to slow down in areas where they see pedestrians.
Speeding contributes to a number of accidents each year. In some areas,
the posted speed limit may be higher than conditions warrant if pedestrians
are present. For example, although a neighborhood street might be posted
at 25 MPH, it is prudent to go even slower if shcildren are playing nearby.
The same applies to school zones.
"Of added concern is the recent trend of hit and run accidents,"
stated Lansdowne. "If you hit someone and stop, as required by law,
it's an accident. But, when you make the decision to run, it then becomes
a crime."
Drivers are reminded that it is the action of leaving the
scene of the accident that can result in charges of felony hit and run,
a crime that carries significant penalties. San José had six reported
hit and run pedestrian accidents over the past three months, four of which
were fatalities.
While the number of reported pedestrian-related injuries has been on
the decline over the last three years, from 352 in 2000, to 294 in 2002,
there is still a significant need to reduce that number further, along
with the number of pedestrian fatalities, which was 19 in 2000, 11 in
2001 and 19 in 2002.
According to Helmer, "Although the City continues to take proactive
steps to improve safety on San José streets, even one fatality is one
too many. Therefore, we are asking the public's cooperation to improve
safety by driving smart, walking smart and bicycling smart."
For more pedestrian safety tips, visit: www.GetStreetSmarts.org
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