Newport Police News Releases

 

Newport Police Department  169 SW Coast Highway  Newport, Oregon 97365

 

 

NPD MEDIA RELEASE                       04/02/2008 10:00 AM

 

Incident:             Newport Police Department Receives Pedestrian Safety Grant                                                                                              

 

Details:           The Newport Police Department is pleased to announce that the Department has received a pedestrian safety grant in the amount of $5,000 from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), along with the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition (WPC) and Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA).  The 2008 mini-grant are used for the enforcement of crosswalk laws.  This is the first year the Police Department has received this grant.

 

Since 2001 ODOT has provided this grant to cities, towns and communities across the state.  This year 21 city police and four county sheriff agencies received funds to stage crosswalk enforcement actions against motorists who fail to yield to pedestrians.

 

This grant is an important tool for communities to bring attention to pedestrian safety, Sergeant Todd Sarazin, pedestrian safety grant supervisor, says “this grant will be very important for our community, and I’m sure it’ll have a significant impact in helping us improve safety for people on foot.”  Crashes have a high cost for communities.  According to a 2008 report released by AAA, the cost to communities for automobile crashes is three times what it is for traffic congestion.  In smaller communities the cost is greater.  Crashes are particularly fatal to people on foot; in a crash with an automobile there is a 140 percent greater possibility of death for the pedestrian than the motorist. 

 

This grant is an important way to bring attention to the Oregon crosswalk law. 

The law states:

 

Ø   All intersections marked and unmarked are a legal crosswalk, and drivers are required to stop when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk

 

Ø   Drivers must stop and stay stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks until they have cleared the driver’s lane and the adjacent lane

 

Ø   When a vehicle is turning drivers must stop and remain stopped until the pedestrian has cleared the lane into which the driver is turning plus the entire adjacent lane, when turning at a signal allow the pedestrian to clear the lane plus six feet of the adjacent lane.

 

The Newport Police Department will conduct pedestrian safety operations in April, May, June, and September.  Public awareness is a vital part of this grant.  The operations will be announced via public service announcements and media releases to local newspapers.  Signs announcing the upcoming enforcement action will be placed at the targeted intersection a few days in advance. 

 

On the day of the operation, a police officer or volunteer will cross a street at the intersection.  If passing motorists fails to stop and yield for the pedestrian, they may be issued a citation. 

 

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Information Released By:  Sergeant Todd R. Sarazin, 541.574.0632