Crosswalk violations call for strategic plan
from Getting There by Michael Dresser
Jen Gaffney of Baltimore raises what has become a perennial issue in Baltimore — one that the city needs to address with a comprehensive strategy rather than a Band-Aid. It’s the penchant of local drivers to tune out the existence of pedestrian crosswalks. For a past column, I observed the behavior of Baltimore drivers around a well-marked pedestrian crosswalk. What I found is that any pedestrian who relies on a crosswalk to assure the right-of-way better have paid-up life insurance.
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What this city requires is a coordinated strategy of using signage, advertising, law enforcement and political leadership to send a message to drivers to watch out for pedestrians — or else. At the same time, city officials ought to show they’re ready to crack down on wayward pedestrians.
First, that would involve a signage strategy. The city should start with the premise that what it’s doing now is insufficient to grab drivers’ attention. After all, it’s tough to talk on a cell phone and look out for pedestrians entering crosswalks. Flashing yellow lights might help, along with pedestrian-activated crosswalks.
That’s expensive though. And by itself, it’s likely to be ineffective. Baltimore drivers are just too used to plowing through crosswalks without slowing down.
What’s also needed is a highly visible, well-publicized enforcement campaign. The police ought to set up sting operations at strategic crosswalks such as the one in Harbor East and relentlessly ticket drivers who fail to stop. Special attention should be given to those who plow through crosswalks while talking on cell phones.
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When the sting occurs, local news media ought to be invited to cover the event. Believe me, they’ll show up for that. It’s great street theater. Repeat a few times at different locations, back up the message with a public service ad campaign, and the message will filter out.
Don’t count on police to make this a priority on their own, however. It would likely require a push from the mayor herself. And to get the mayor’s attention, it sometimes requires the City Council to weigh in.
So what does the city have to say to this? Getting There invites a response.
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