Full Notification

Operation Safe Crossing


The City of Janesville is increasing efforts to improve pedestrian safety. As part of this effort the Janesville Police Department will be conducting periodic pedestrian safety enforcement operations that will focus on motorists who fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and pedestrians that cause safety issues when crossing a road not in a crosswalk.
Regrettably, Janesville has experienced a recent fatal traffic collision involving a pedestrian not in a crosswalk. On 08-09-2019, a Janesville resident was struck by a car in the 1200 block of N. Parker Dr. while crossing the street. The police department and City Manager’s Office have received complaints of motorists failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk at several marked crosswalks around the city, but mainly in the downtown area. The Janesville Police Department is committed to educating and preventing pedestrian/vehicle collisions with proactive efforts.
As part of this effort, Janesville police officers dressed in plain clothes will be crossing the street while uniformed officers monitor the crosswalk for motorists who fail to yield the right-of-way or for pedestrians who take unsafe and illegal actions. Drivers and pedestrians stopped during this safety operation may be issued warnings or citations.
The Police Department is conducting this public awareness and enforcement program to educate and encourage members of the community to develop and maintain safe practices while driving, walking and cycling throughout Janesville.
The pedestrian safety enforcement operations will take place between August 30th and September 9th at marked crosswalks around the city including the following locations:
00 Block of S. Main St. (Near the Olde Towne Mall)
300 Block of S. Main St. (Near the Hedberg Public Library)
Intersection of W. Court St. and S. River St.
Beloit Av. and the bike trail near Dawson Field
Intersection of N. Washington Av. and Greenview Av.
Crosswalk enforcement actions are an effective way to communicate pedestrian right-of-way laws to both drivers and pedestrians. This operation will serve as a reminder of this responsibility. The department expects that voluntary compliance will be improved as a result. Drivers and pedestrians have certain safety responsibilities that depend on both circumstances and common sense. The following is a reminder of driver and pedestrian responsibilities.
Drivers must:
• Yield to pedestrians who are crossing the roadway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection where there are no traffic lights or control signals.
• Yield to pedestrians who have started crossing at an intersection or crosswalk on a "walk" signal or a green light, if there is no walk signal.
• Yield to pedestrians when crossing a sidewalk or entering an alley or driveway.
• Not overtake and pass any vehicle that stops at an intersection or crosswalk to permit a pedestrian or bicyclist to cross the roadway safely.
Pedestrians must:
• Yield to drivers when crossing a road where there is no intersection or crosswalk or where the pedestrian does not have a green or "walk" signal and where vehicles have a green signal.
• Not suddenly move into the path of a closely approaching vehicle that does not have sufficient time to yield for a pedestrian.
• Walk on and along the left side of a highway when not walking on a sidewalk. Note: This law does not apply to bicycles. Bicycles operate under the same laws as other legal vehicles on the road and should always stay on the right side of the road.
For additional information, please contact Sergeant Brian Vaughn at (608)755-3100.

Incident Number:
Location:
By: Sgt. Vaughn
Date: 08/29/2019



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