With a decrease in daylight hours, Fort Atkinson city officials have released a statement reminding motorists to remain aware of pedestrian traffic.
“With less daylight hours this time of year we hear about a lot of near misses when it comes to vehicles stopping for pedestrians at the city’s various marked cross walks,” Director of Public Works Andy Selle was quoted as saying in the released statement.
Motorists are reminded when pedestrians are crossing to wait until the person is fully across the road to continue traveling, the release noted.
“Often the car stopped waiting for a pedestrian to cross is what oncoming traffic in the other lane notices, not the pedestrian crossing; it’s important to wait for the person to fully cross the street before continuing to travel,” Selle stated within the release.
According to the release, “the number of pedestrians killed in crashes in Wisconsin rose 44% last year, from 50 deaths in 2021 to 72 in 2022. Preliminary data shows improvement in the number of pedestrian-involved crashes this year, but fatalities remain high. So far in 2023, 49 people were killed in 880 pedestrian-involved crashes, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.”
The release advised that drivers must be extra conscious of pedestrian safety this time of year. When Daylight Saving Time ends, drivers will spend more time traveling in the dark, at time when pedestrians are difficult to see.
The release further advised drivers to always keep a close eye on the road.
“State laws aim to keep all road users safe by creating a protected space to cross streets. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in a sidewalk, alley or driveway and when pedestrians have started crossing the street,” the release continued.
The release provided the following safety recommendations:
• Put the phone down to avoid distractions.
• Obey all posted signs and speed limits; driving a few miles over the speed limit can be the difference between life and death for a pedestrian.
• Do not block crosswalks when stopping at intersections.
• Always drive sober.
Additionally, the release stated that pedestrians are required to yield to drivers when crossing a road where there is no intersection, crosswalk or walk signal.
“They should not suddenly move into the path of a closely approaching vehicle that does not have time to yield,” the release read.
The release advises pedestrians can take the following additional steps to keep themselves safe:
• Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
• Use sidewalks whenever available; if there is no sidewalk, travel facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
• Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections; if a crosswalk is not available, find a well-lit area with a clear view of traffic and wait for a gap that allows enough time to cross safely.
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.
• Take extra care at night and at dusk when chances of injury increase; wear reflective clothing or lights to be more visible.
A resident and a canine companion cross a city street in the designated crosswalk. City officials have recently released information reminding drivers and pedestrians to stay vigilant and aware of one-another as daylight hours shorten. Contributed photo.
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