On Wednesday, representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Highway Safety Network (HSN) and Bradford City Police gathered at a crosswalk in front of Bradford Area High School on Interstate Parkway to highlight the importance of pedestrian and crosswalk safety.

“We’ve seen a number of incidents and near misses here in the past,” said Bradford City Police Chief Mike Ward. “Here, and at other crosswalks in the city, we see speeding and distracted driving as big safety issues. We’re here with safety partners today to join them in recognizing these safety issues and to bring them to the attention of the public. We hope that results in safer efforts being made by everyone.”

Josh Woods, Highway Safety Network Community Traffic Safety project coordinator, reminded motorists that when a pedestrian crosses the street in a crosswalk, the driver must yield. When crossing the street at a signalized intersection, both pedestrians and motorists must obey the traffic control devices. In addition, if a pedestrian crosses the street where it is not an intersection and there is no crosswalk, the pedestrian must yield to vehicles.

“Our goal here today is to bring awareness to protecting not only pedestrians, but also vulnerable road users here in the City of Bradford,” said Woods. “It’s important that motorists slow down when approaching a crosswalk or intersection, that they travel at a prudent speed and don’t try to beat a light at signalized intersection, and most importantly always expect the unexpected and be alert for pedestrians.

“On the flip side, it’s important for pedestrians to cross only at crosswalks, that they look left, right, then left again and keep looking, and that they make eye contact with approaching drivers. Pedestrians have responsibility also, and should always watch for vehicles and obey traffic signs and signals. It is never safe to walk into the street with traffic quickly approaching, and a crosswalk does not guarantee that drivers will stop.”

McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer added, “In a heavily traveled area like this, crosswalk safety is so important. There are often large groups of people crossing between the school and the medical center across the street. I want to remind the public that violating crosswalk laws alone can result in a summary offense, but if that violation results in an injury or fatality, you could be looking at misdemeanor or even felony charges.”

For more information on pedestrian safety, visit PennDOT.pa.gov/ safety.