FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Springfield Police Department conducted a Crosswalk Yield Check on Friday, March 24 at the crosswalk located at Mt. Vernon Street and Golden Avenue
Yield Check officers report approximately seven drivers properly yielded to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Officers stopped 13 drivers who failed to yield to a pedestrian utilizing the crosswalk. Drivers were provided warnings and educational materials. An overall driver compliance rate of 35% was recorded at this crosswalk location.
Enforcement activities were cut short at this location due to weather impacts.
How do Crosswalk Yield Checks work?
Three Springfield Police officers station themselves at a designated crosswalk location for approximately four hours, monitoring for driver compliance. One officer acts as a decoy pedestrian, a second functions as a spotter and a third in a patrol car is ready to stop those who do not properly yield to the pedestrian.
Posted signage is placed to alert drivers that they are approaching a Yield Check location. Those who are stopped are provided a warning and educational materials. After a warning period, drivers may receive citations for blatant violations. Officers may also address any pedestrians that do not follow regulations, providing similar warnings and education to those who put themselves or others at risk.
Funded through a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation, Crosswalk Yield Checks are conducted through a partnership between the Springfield Police Department and the SGF Yields pedestrian safety program administered by Springfield Public Works.
For more information about Crosswalk Yield Checks and the SGF Yields pedestrian safety program, please visit springfieldmo.gov/sgfyields, follow SGF Yields on facebook, or email [email protected]
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Media contact: Communication Coordinator Kristen Milam at 573-819-3713 or [email protected].