Authorities in Michigan say that they are participating in a week-long enforcement campaign to cut down on pedestrian violations that are likely to increase the risk of a crash.
“Pedestrian Enforcement Week” is taking place from September 5 — 11 in four Michigan cities — Detroit, Kalamazoo, Warren, and Lansing, according to a press release from Michigan State Police (MSP).
The goal of the enforcement campaign is to cut down on pedestrian fatalities and injuries. More than 100 pedestrians die in traffic accidents in Michigan each year, MSP says.
Police say that they’ll be looking our for dangerous pedestrian behaviors like not following traffic control signals, not walking on a sidewalk where provided, not walking facing traffic when on a roadway, and failing to yield to drivers with the right-of-way.
Police say that they’ll also enforce driver violations that could threaten pedestrians, including llegal turns, failing to stop at a signal or stop sign before a crosswalk, failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk at a signalized intersection, and blocking a roadway that interferes with the normal flow of traffic.
“This enforcement period aims to educate community members about the importance of pedestrian safety and the traffic laws designed to protect them,” said Michael L. Prince, Office of Highway Safety Planning director. “We want everyone, people who drive and people who walk, to obey traffic signs and signals and stay alert for each other. Organizations are working hard to reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries in Michigan, but there is still more we can do.”
Participating law enforcement agencies include the Detroit Police, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff, the Kalamazoo Township Police, the Western Michigan University Public Safety, Warren Police Department, the Macomb County Sheriff, Lansing Police Department, and Lansing Community College Police.