Pictured: Two of the volunteers during the exercise attempt to cross 300 East by Utah State University Eastern.
When was the last time you noticed someone attempting to cross the street at a crosswalk, weighing the options of being flattened by oncoming traffic or being five minutes late?
It’s something many in the Castle Country area are familiar with and have seen from both sides of the equation. However, Price City Councilwoman Kathy Hanna-Smith recently decided to take action to help remedy the situation.
“It is time that we respect pedestrians and their right of way,” Hanna-Smith said. Seeing several cases of drivers not yielding to pedestrians, she decided to talk to Price City Police officials and see what could be done.
“Once we started the dialogue, the wheels got in motion really fast,” she said. Price City Police Chief Kevin Drolc and Captain Bill Barnes worked alongside the councilwoman and decided to set apart time during two of their training days as a department to devote to the issue.
Thus, around three to four groups hit the streets last Wednesday in an effort to increase awareness about pedestrian safety.
Made up of patrolling officers as well as local law enforcement officials who volunteered to go “undercover” and other volunteers, the groups located themselves at some of Price’s busiest intersections, including 300 East by Utah State University Eastern, the intersection between 300 East and Main as well as the intersection of 100 North and 100 West, among others.
Before going out, however, Captain Barnes spoke to those about the statewide rules regulating such travel.
Some of the points he emphasized included the fact that pedestrians need to follow devices meant to control traffic as well as the fact that vehicles must yield to pedestrians when in the crosswalk and/or approaching the other half of the road.
Captain Barnes also mentioned how pedestrians themselves have a “responsibility” to be aware and not recklessly approach the street in a rushed fashion and that, if crossing in-between intersections with control measures in place, crosswalks must be used.
“It was a huge success,” Hanna-Smith said after the event. According to Captain Barnes, the Price City Police Department wrote a total of 15 tickets while USU Eastern Police gave out two during the two-and-a-half hour block.
Hanna-Smith further explained how she hopes to work with the public works department of the city to ensure that crosswalks are kept in good shape and clearly visible as well.
“I just think we need to get back to basics and stop for pedestrians,” she said.
