Next week, the city of 麻豆影院 and CU 麻豆影院 will step up enforcement of the city鈥檚 traffic laws in and around several of 麻豆影院鈥檚 top locations for motor vehicle collisions involving a bicyclist or pedestrian as part of the听 crosswalk safety campaign.
The campaign begins Monday, Sept. 25, and lasts through Friday, Sept. 29. Officers from both agencies will be at intersections around the CU 麻豆影院 campus.
Data collected by the city shows nearly half of all collisions within the city occur at intersections, and that crosswalks are the most common locations for collisions between motor vehicles and bicyclists or pedestrians. Eight percent of traffic collisions in 麻豆影院 involve a bicyclist or pedestrian, and these collisions account for 60 percent of serious injury and fatal collisions.
The city of 麻豆影院 website notes, "This finding isn't surprising if you consider that crosswalks are where vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists literally 'cross paths'听the most."
Throughout the campaign, the city and CU 麻豆影院 police officers听will focus enforcement efforts at select high-collision intersections and crosswalks near campus,听and each day police will be joined by Heads Up ambassadors who will distribute educational material, coupons and small gifts to reinforce the Heads Up 麻豆影院 safety message.
Officers will be enforcing the three crosswalk-safety ordinances, requiring:
- Pedestrians and bicyclists to activate the flashing lights at crosswalks before entering the road or face a $50 fine.
- Bicyclists to slow to 8 mph or less as they approach, enter and traverse a crosswalk at all intersections or face a $50 fine.
- Drivers approaching a crosswalk to stop and wait for a crossing pedestrian, or face a $125 fine and receive four points on their driving records.
"This is an opportunity to remind everyone, including students, that improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety is an important priority,"听CU Police Chief Ken Koch said.
