October 12, 2011

Pedestrian Safety Initiative

The Albany Police Department and the Traffic Safety Division will be conducting a pedestrian safety initiative starting today and running through October 17. Traffic Safety Officers will be monitoring intersections and crosswalks where there is high pedestrian and vehicular traffic to ensure that motorists are obeying all vehicle and traffic laws. The city has a large number of people that walk to work or school or use alternative transportation such as bicycles, especially during the warmer months of the year. There have several citizens who have voiced their concern over motorists speeding on the roadways and more specifically running red lights at intersections and failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians. Several accidents have been documented over the last several weeks in which a pedestrian was struck by a car while in the cross walk or a bicyclist has been struck. The city has clearly lined designated crosswalks on most streets. There are also a number of pedestrian crossing signs placed in crosswalks to warn motorists to yield when pedestrians are crossing. Traffic Safety Officers, over the next week, will be educating, advising and enforcing the New York State Traffic Law in areas that have been identified as problematic. Pedestrians and bicyclists should also practice roadway safety at all times and recognize that they need to follow New York State Vehicle & Traffic Laws that apply to them as well. For more safety information visit the New York State Pedestrian Safety web link. http://www.safeny.ny.gov/peds-ndx.htm