Ann Arbor's crosswalks are once again the focus of a targeted enforcement campaign to increase awareness of pedestrian and motorist safety.
In conjunction with the city's transportation program and Safe Streets and Sidewalks Task Force, Ann Arbor police are conducting targeted enforcement at 14 crosswalks this week.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com file photo
Over the campaign's six-day span, police officers will keep a watchful eye for drivers not stopping for pedestrians crossing the street at crosswalks.
Under the city's pedestrian safety ordinance approved by the City Council in 2010 and amended in 2011, motorists are required to stop for pedestrians at the curb or within the crosswalk.
The fine for violating the ordinance is $100 plus $30 in court costs.
Shortly after enforcement of the ordinance began in 2011, there were a number of reports of traffic accidents in which motorists were rear-ended after stopping for pedestrians at crosswalks.
At particularly problematic crosswalks, including along Plymouth Road, the city eventually installed strobing lights that can be activated by pedestrians to help make sure cars stop.
City officials said safe driving is not the sole emphasis of the campaign, as pedestrians have responsibilities, too.
The city's ordinance also makes it unlawful for pedestrians to suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into a path of a vehicle that is so close it is unsafe for a driver to yield.
The locations that will be in rotation for targeted enforcement include:
- 500 block of South State Street
- Fifth Avenue and Detroit Street
- Fourth Avenue and Catherine Street
- Washtenaw Avenue and East Stadium Boulevard
- 600 block of Huron Parkway
- Fuller Road by the Veterans Affairs Hospital
- West Stadium Boulevard and Clock Tower Entrance
- Newport Road and Red Oak Street
- South Seventh Street and Greenview Street
- 2200 block of Delaware Drive
- South Seventh Street and West Washington Street
- 2200 Block of Platt Road
- Green Road and Gettysburg
- Green Road and Burbank
City officials said the 14 locations, which differ from the locations chosen for a targeted enforcement campaign in January, were selected based on recent pedestrian street usage counts and traffic complaint locations. Many of the selected locations also coincide with routes used by students to walk to school.
City officials said ensuring pedestrian safety is especially important in Ann Arbor with more than 17 percent of residents walking to work, more than six times the national average.
Ann Arbor has been recognized by Prevention Magazine and the American Podiatric Medical Association as the third most walkable city in the nation.
Additional information on safe walking, bicycling and driving in Ann Arbor can be found at www.a2gov.org/walkbikedrive and http://a2nonmoto.tumblr.com.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.