Pedestrian Safety Enforcement
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.