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Jaywalking citations on the rise
Crackdown aimed at lowering deaths and injuries to pedestrians
By Stephen Keller
Garlock suffered four broken bones and a fractured skull in the incident. He said it took him about six months to fully recover from his injuries. Last year, the Austin Police Department reported 461 auto-pedestrian crashes. Of the 63 total traffic fatalities in 2007, 24 people died after being hit by a car. "The doctors told me I shouldn't have survived it," Garlock said. "Obviously I don't jaywalk anymore." In February, APD began a jaywalking crackdown to prevent auto-pedestrian accidents, said Lt. Craig Cannon of APD's Highway Enforcement Command. Cannon said 534 city ordinance violations have been issued for pedestrians in the roadway: 416 for pedestrians crossing mid-block and 118 for pedestrians walking in the roadway. The citations carry up to a $280 fine. Cannon said the police department will use plain-clothes and motorcycle officers to ticket drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way to people in the crosswalk. The importance of the project is to eliminate deaths and injuries to people crossing legally and illegally in all sections of the city, Cannon said. The crackdown is the first jaywalking initiative conducted by APD and will last through May 4. As a part of the project, officers will give advice to pedestrians, such as wearing brightly colored clothing to attract drivers' attention. Cannon said police may conduct another initiative next year. "It's possible," he said. "If it's effective, we'll do it again." Students jaywalking on Whitis Street had mixed reactions to the APD initiative. "I understand why it's dangerous and it interrupts traffic. Like just now, a car was coming at me," advertising sophomore Megan Smith said. "But a $200 ticket … it's a little ridiculous." The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
tomwald
Tom Wald
posted 3/19/08 @ 3:22 AM CST
Driving is a privilege. Walking is a right.
Indeed, jaywalking can cause problems. It can be rude and inconvenient for others. I am not here encouraging its practice. (Continued…)
mojomike
Mike Rock
posted 3/19/08 @ 6:09 AM CST
North of 27th street it's ridiculous how far apart the crosswalks are. How else can you get across the street if you don't cut across? After 27th you have to go way down to 29th street, which is much farther than an average 2 blocks, then there is one at 30th, then not another one until 35th street. (Continued…)
mikeburek1
Mike Burek
posted 3/19/08 @ 6:36 AM CST
"We look at the traffic volumes and the pedestrian volumes and determine if a crosswalk would in fact make the situation better. There are plenty of locations where a crosswalk wouldn't be appropriate. (Continued…)
mikeburek1
Mike Burek
posted 3/19/08 @ 6:41 AM CST
"He noted that there is already an overpass near Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall that spans Dean Keeton Street."
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Oh, so kinda like how the toll roads in Cedar Park and Round Rock are supposed to remove congestion in downtown Austin?
I'll remember that bridge next time I'm crossing MLK. (Continued…)
Christopher
posted 3/19/08 @ 9:12 AM CST
Jaywalkers are breaking the law. Certainly drivers aren't innocent in this, but if people would simply look to see if the sign says walk or don't walk, there would be far fewer accidents. (Continued…)
Nicole
posted 3/19/08 @ 9:59 AM CST
Drivers should be more careful, yes. But really, I can't stand that people walk in front of cars without even looking up. It is though they are daring the cars not to hit them as they illegally walk out into the middle of the street. (Continued…)
Charles
posted 3/19/08 @ 10:47 AM CST
If APD is going to do this, they should also crack down on those bicyclists that don't follow traffic rules. They are putting themselves in just as much danger as a jaywalker. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 3/19/08 @ 3:07 PM CST
Amen, I've almost been hit my speeding bikers a lot more often than I've had a close call with a car. Especially at speedway and 24th. They're often going faster than the cars do and with much less care for pedestrians. (Continued…)
Sara
posted 3/19/08 @ 4:55 PM CST
I think drivers and pedestrians should be more careful. But I am interested in seeing how this goes, because even APD doesn't yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. (Continued…)
Jeff Hilliard
posted 3/19/08 @ 5:17 PM CST
I have to admit that I must agree that people shouldn't just be able to run out into the middle of traffic because they are too lazy to use the crosswalk and/or too impatient to wait for the right of way. (Continued…)
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