A Resident's Guide for Creating Safe and Walkable Communities

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Chapter 3: How can the safety of my neighborhood be improved?

Enforcement

Resource Sheet 10: Enforcement Contact Worksheet can be used to help guide your discussion when contacting your local law enforcement agency.

For More Information:

For technical assistance regarding the ADA, visit the ADA homepage at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/.

Law enforcement officers can help ensure that pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists abide by traffic laws.

Resource Sheet 11: Sample "Warning" Letter to Drivers is a sample letter for drivers that can be distributed by law enforcement officers as part of an education or enforcement campaign.

Progressive ticketing can be an effective way to alert road users to pedestrian-related laws and safety concerns.
Radar speed trailers can supplement motor officer enforcement of safe speeds

Pedestrian safety laws

An important first step in enforcement is to find out your state's laws related to pedestrian safety and where they apply (e.g., city, county, or specific roadway).

All states have a Web site where they post their laws pertaining to pedestrians and bicyclists. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) produced a compilation of state pedestrian laws, available at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/ bike/resourceguide/index.html. You can also contact your state's department of transportation or read your state's Motor Vehicle Code for a list of statewide pedestrian statutes.

There are federal laws that regulate what pedestrian accommodations must be provided and how accommodations are designed. The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that disabled persons have full access to public infrastructure in the United States. This means that newly constructed public streets must have proper curb ramps, sidewalks, driveways, and tactile warning strips at street crossings.

For More Information:

Many state departments of transportation have a bureau or division of bicycle and pedestrian transportation Web site that lists all of the pedestrian-related laws for the state. For some examples, visit:

Strategies for local law enforcement

There are a number of strategies that your local law enforcement agency can undertake to enforce laws that will improve pedestrian safety. You should discuss these with law enforcement professionals to see which are feasible in your community:

  • Traffic complaint hotline—An agency establishes a central hotline phone number or Web site to receive traffic complaints.
  • Pedestrian safety enforcement operations—Also called pedestrian decoys, these are well-prepared and coordinated operations designed to warn motorists that the yield-to-pedestrian laws will be enforced at targeted locations.
  • Photo enforcement—In states where automated photo speed enforcement is permissible, it can be used to concentrate speed enforcement in specific areas with high volumes of pedestrian crossings, such as school zones.
  • High visibility enforcement—Local agencies can help to improve driver and pedestrian safety by publicizing enforcement efforts and conducting the enforcement where people will see it. Local news outlets often carry stories on these types of efforts. Highly publicized enforcement (of even low-level enforcement) targeted towards a specific behavior is likely to be most effective.
  • Progressive ticketing—Progressive ticketing is a method for introducing ticketing through a three-stage process, to first educate, then warn, then ticket offenders. Issuing warnings allows police to contact up to 20 times as many noncompliant motorists or pedestrians than the writing of citations does. In addition, the high frequency of stops ensures not only that many people directly make contact with law enforcement, but also that many others witness these stops and are prompted to obey the rules.
  • Double fines in school zones and other special interest areas—Strict enforcement of speed laws in school zones and other special interest districts or areas is one law enforcement tool that can improve safety for pedestrians as well as motorists. A zero tolerance policy for speeders in these zones and an increase in fines for drivers who violate the posted speed limit are potential approaches.

Strategies for community members

You and other community members can also help improve driver and pedestrian behaviors to improve safety in several ways.

  • Neighborhood speed watch—Radar speed units are loaned to residents who are trained by police to collect speed data and vehicle descriptions. The local agency follows up and sends the vehicle owners a letter asking for voluntary compliance. This measure can educate neighbors about the issue (e.g., speeders often live in the neighborhood) and help boost support for long-term solutions, such as traffic calming.
  • Radar speed trailers and active speed monitors—Radar speed trailers can be used and supplemented with motor officer enforcement to educate people and help boost support for long-term solutions.
  • Adult school crossing guards—Adult crossing guards can play a key role in promoting safe driver and pedestrian behavior at crosswalks near schools. Adult school crossing guards can be parent volunteers, school staff, or paid personnel. Annual classroom and field training, as well as special uniforms or equipment to increase visibility, are recommended (and in some locations required).

Community Success Story 9: Enforcement Component of the Oakland Pedestrian Safety Project

Oakland, California

During the late 1990s, Oakland had the second highest rate of pedestrian fatalities among California cities. The Oakland Pedestrian Safety Project was formed to prevent pedestrian deaths and injuries. Along with several education initiatives, the City committed to greater enforcement efforts. Community members and city staff worked side by side with the police department to send the message that pedestrians have the right-of-way at intersections. Television coverage of the efforts helped spread this message to a larger audience. Today, aggressive pedestrian right-of-way enforcement occurs at a minimum of 20 locations annually, with an average of 30 citations issued per location to motorists violating the right-of-way of a pedestrian.

For more information, visit http://www.oaklandnet.com/government/opsp.html.

 

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Program Contact

Tamara Redmon

202-366-4077

Dick Schaffer

202-366-2176

What’s New

The FHWA Safety Office is continually developing new materials to assist states, localities and citizens in improving pedestrian and bicycle safety. The materials listed on this page were completed recently.

New Spotlight on Pedestrian Safety

New Promoting the Implementation of Proven Pedestrian Countermeasures

Pedestrian Forum - Fall 2011

State Best Practice Policy for Medians

State Best Practice Policy for Shoulders and Walkways

Pedestrian Countermeasure Policy Best Practice Report

The State of Florida is developing a statewide Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. They have set up a project website that includes information about the project, workshop presentations and resources relating to pedestrian safety.

Evaluating Pedestrian Safety Countermeasures

Safety Benefits of Raised Medians and Pedestrian Refuge Areas: Brochure, Booklet

Safety Benefits of Walkways, Sidewalks, and Paved Shoulders: Brochure, Booklet

Pedestrian Safety Strategic Plan