POLL: What Can We Do to Make Pedestrians Safer?

Pedestrians in Minnesota are dying after being hit by vehicles at 164 percent of last year's rate, according to the Star Tribune.

Two of the latest were in Anoka County: An elderly couple died Saturday after they were struck while walking in a crosswalk against a red light in Ramsey.

With Minnetonka Police staff posing as pedestrians last Wednesday, they stopped nine drivers and gave two $178 citations for violating the crosswalk law, according to the Star Tribune article.

The city of Minnetonka offers these tips:

Now that school is back in session, it’s a good time to be reminded of how to use crosswalks properly, whether you are driving or walking. Both drivers and pedestrians share the responsibility to use caution and avoid accidents.

State law says:

• Where traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk.
• The driver must remain stopped until the pedestrian has passed the lane in which the vehicle is stopped.
• No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.
• It’s against the law for any person to drive a motor vehicle through a column of school children crossing a street or highway, or past a member of a school safety patrol or adult crossing guard, while the member of the patrol is directing children to cross.

Pedestrians:

• Move at a brisk pace when walking through an intersection.
• Make sure that motorists can see you; this can be done by making eye contact with a driver. Wearing bright-colored clothing is also recommended.
• If it’s dark out, use a flashlight.
• Use sidewalks when provided.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the roadway (against the flow of traffic) so you can see oncoming traffic.
• If there is a traffic signal, obey it.

Parents:

• Teach children to cross at intersections and crosswalks and look before entering the street.
• It’s never a good idea for children to play in the street, no matter how quiet the neighborhood. Encourage them to use parks and playgrounds instead.
• Show children what different signs and signals mean and the proper way to obey them.
• Practice crossing the street with your child to help them judge how long it takes to cross the street.
• Remind children to follow school bus rules.

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