OSWEGO, NY – Beginning Monday, the Oswego City Police Department will be instituting a “Crosswalk Safety Initiative†targeting vehicles that fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk.
During the summer months, the city of Oswego experiences an increase in vehicular and pedestrian traffic which also increases the potential for car-pedestrian collisions.
This initiative will combine education and enforcement by attempting to raise awareness while at the same time actively enforcing the laws governing vehicles approaching pedestrians in a crosswalk.
A portion of the initiative will involve specific crosswalk operations using a “designated pedestrian†to identify violators with officers staged to intercept and ticket the offenders.
According to Chief Michael J. Dehm Jr. “Our intent is not to simply increase the volume of our tickets. Our goal is to encourage safe driving habits, creating a safer environment for all of our citizens. We also want to remind pedestrians that they should exercise caution while crossing and not just assume that vehicles are going to stop.â€
According to Section 1151 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, “…the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk on the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling…â€
“As a courtesy reminder, we have a couple of specifically marked crosswalks in the city of Oswego (East First between East Mohawk and East Oneida streets, and West Utica Street at Singleton Street) with bright yellow signs indicating that motorists must stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk,†the chief added. “I would like citizens to realize that the law applies to all crosswalks whether or not a “courtesy sign†is present.â€
The initiative will remain an on-going effort as long as violations are occurring.
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