The death of a Brewer man in December after he was hit while using a crosswalk in front of his barbershop has focused needed attention on pedestrian safety.
The message, reiterated by the Bangor Police Department in a recent Facebook post, is simple: If you are walking and need to cross a street, use a crosswalk if one is available. Don’t just assume drivers know you’re there. Make sure you are seen before stepping off the curb. Drivers, state law requires you to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks so they can safely cross the street.
If you can’t follow the simple directions, Bangor is stepping up enforcement and will take $137 from you, whether you’re driving or walking, as a simple reminder — if you get caught.
The problem is that it isn’t that simple.
First, Maine law isn’t as clear as it should be. It says drivers must “yield to” pedestrians in a crosswalk. Most people assume this means they must stop, which is a good thing, but too many drivers still don’t follow the law. Some don’t want to be slowed down by a pesky pedestrian and assume the walker can cross after they drive by. Others do stop, but start driving again as soon as the walker has cleared their bumper.
Sen. Amy Volk, R-Scarborough, wants to strengthen the law to require motorists to stop and not start moving again until the pedestrian has reached the other side of the street on a two-lane road or across the adjacent lane on roads with more than two lanes. This may seem like a small detail, but it makes a lot of sense.
Her bill, which she sponsored on behalf of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, also clarifies the responsibilities of bicyclists.
More than 250 pedestrians are hit by cars every year in Maine, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. About a quarter of pedestrians hit between 2011 and 2013 were in a crosswalk or crossing with a signal light.
Nationally, nearly three-quarters of pedestrians killed in 2012 died in urban areas, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of these, however, only 20 percent were at intersections. The majority were at night. Fridays and Saturdays are the most dangerous days for pedestrians, as are New Year’s Day (presumably the early morning hours) and Halloween.
A more comprehensive but older study by the administration found that from 1997 to 2005, less than 9 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred in a crosswalk. Among the top reasons for fatal pedestrian accidents were improper crossing, darting into traffic outside of crosswalks and failing to yield the right of way to vehicle traffic.
Hence the Bangor Police Department Facebook post.
“If you are crossing in locations other than crosswalks and we see you doing so, you will also be asked to pay the ridiculous sum of $137.00. (we do not decide the amount of the fines and we do not get the money, fyi). The same goes for drivers who do not stop if you, the pedestrian, have appropriately stepped into a crosswalk and make it known that you need to cross. You can even give a little wave (like a princess) to show drivers you are there and waiting.
“We cannot catch each violator and would love to see some courtesy and voluntary compliance,” the post states.
Amen to that.