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BY DONNIE JOHNSTON
Pedestrians are supposed to use crosswalks, and motorists are required to stop for them when they do.
Those two points will be the focus of a Culpeper town police initiative that begins Tuesday.
To remind downtown motorists to look out for pedestrians, police will set up electronic message boards for a week at both ends of Main Street.
"We want to educate motorists and pedestrians about laws regarding crosswalks and crossing the street," said interim police Chief Chris Jenkins. "We plan to warn motorists traveling on Main Street of our increased crosswalk enforcement efforts downtown."
The initiative will be part of Virginia's Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Week, which runs Sept. 12-18.
Three pedestrians have been killed crossing Culpeper streets since 2006. One elderly woman was killed while in a crosswalk; two men were fatally struck outside of crosswalks.
Town police say 73 pedestrians were killed and 1,402 were injured last year across Virginia.
While motorists will be the main focus of the upcoming initiative, pedestrians who cross in the middle of a block will also face warnings from police. The area near the post office will be particularly scrutinized.
Two accidents have occurred in that block in the past 10 years, police statistics state. Records are unclear on whether pedestrians were involved.
"It appears that some people don't want to walk to the closest intersection and cross at a marked crosswalk," said Officer Andy Berry. "By doing so, they put themselves at risk and don't give drivers enough time to react."
The intersection of Main and Davis streets is a angerous one for pedestrians, with a number of near misses occurring there in recent months.
This is due in large part to a light synchronization in which traffic going in one direction is stopped by a red light but the light remains green for motorists traveling in the opposite direction.
Town Manager Jeff Muzzy said several weeks ago that the town planned to look into the situation, and it was discussed at a recent Town Council committee meeting.
Police also advise pedestrians to wear bright colors when crossing the street during the day and "reflective material or blinking lights at night."
They remind motorists that pedestrians in the crosswalk have the right of way when drivers turn right on red. This is an especially dangerous issue at the intersection of the Sperryville Pike and Main Street.
"We want motorists to stop for pedestrians, and we want pedestrians to cross at intersections and marked crosswalks, so everyone arrives at their destination safely," said Jenkins.
Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com
