Pedestrian Safety Enforcement

Details

Updated on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, 7:33 pm

The purpose of the Pedestrian Safety Law Enforcement program is to raise awareness of pedestrian safety issues and to reduce the number of auto/ pedestrian crashes within the city limits of Albany.

Most of the serious auto/pedestrian crashes occur while the pedestrian is trying to cross one of the busy multi-lane roadways located in this jurisdiction. The majority of these crashes occur while the pedestrians are in a crosswalk. In the year 2001, in Oregon there were 637 auto/ pedestrian crashes; 292 of the crashes occurred within a crosswalk. Albany averages a minimum of one auto/ pedestrian crash fatality per year.

DRIVER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Yield if pedestrian is crossing roadway at an un-signalized, marked or unmarked crosswalk.
• Stop for a pedestrian that is in the crosswalk and on, or closely approaching, the side of the street that the vehicle is on.
• Always obey speed laws and watch out for small children; especially in residential areas and school zones.
• Stop for school safety patrol.
• Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a marked or unmarked intersection that is waiting for a pedestrian.
• Yield the right of way to a pedestrian on a sidewalk.
• Yield to a blind and/or deaf person crossing the roadway at any point and continue to yield until the person has cleared the roadway.
• Yield to a pedestrian when making a turn at a stoplight.

PEDESTRIAN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Do not start to cross a signalized intersection showing a “Wait” or “Don’t Walk” signal.
• Obey traffic control devices.
• Do not enter the roadway in such a manner as to constitute an immediate hazard.
• Yield the right of way to a vehicle when crossing the street at any point other than a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
• Do not cross against a gated and activated railroad crossing.
• Yield to emergency vehicles.
• Use a pedestrian tunnel or over-crossing when available.
• Do not use the road as a walkway when a sidewalk is available.
• Walk on the left shoulder of a road with no sidewalk on either side.