AFFTC Ground Safety Office discusses crosswalk safety

  • Published
  • By Al Lederman
  • Air Force Flight Test Center Ground Safety
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Over the last couple of weeks several base residents have been hurt attempting to cross the street.

As the weather gets nicer, pedestrians out there will become a more frequent sight for drivers. While it may seem obvious, a pedestrian is a person on foot, someone using roller skates or on a skateboard. It's also a person with a disability on a quadricycle or in a wheelchair, but not somebody riding a bicycle.

Edwards had many improvement projects taking place on base, from the main gates being redesigned to new housing developments. In the process of taking down the older houses to make room for the newer ones, many of the crosswalks have changed to accommodate newer requirements.

Some are no longer required and have been blackened out. Some are now needed because of housing locations and safer routes to schools. Crosswalks are usually yellow, white or have flashing blue lights embedded into the ground.

As with drivers, pedestrians also have a responsibility. Pedestrians shouldn't step out abruptly thinking someone will stop, or step into an oncoming vehicle that is so close as to create a hazardous situation. The driver may not see you initially. For parents walking their small children to school, walk with them a few times so they know where to cross and not to use the blackened out crossing--which has happened a couple of times. The information provided below is reminder from the California Department of Motor Vehicles when approaching or at a crosswalk.

· Always stop for any pedestrian crossing at corners or other crosswalks, even if the crosswalk is in the middle of the block and at corners with or without traffic lights, whether or not the crosswalks are marked by painted lines.

· Do not pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk. You may not see a pedestrian crossing.

· Do not drive on a sidewalk, except to cross it at a driveway or alley. When crossing, yield to any pedestrian.

· Do not stop in a crosswalk. This may cause the pedestrian to step out of the crosswalk and places them in danger.

· If a pedestrian makes eye contact with you, he or she is ready to cross the street. Yield to the pedestrian.

· Allow older pedestrians, disabled pedestrians and women with young children more time to cross the street.

Drivers can be cited for entering a crosswalk while a pedestrian is still in that crosswalk, regardless if there is safe room to continue through or the crosswalk is subdivided. Exercise care and slow down.