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 one 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
contact 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 signal, 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 children 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.”
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