FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City’s SGFYields pedestrian safety program is entering the next phase of the Crosswalk Yield Check program. Beginning on Wednesday, May 3, the Springfield Police Department will begin issuing citations for driver and pedestrian crosswalk violations during weekly Yield Check events.
Funded through a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation, Crosswalk Yield Checks have been conducted at well-marked crosswalk locations throughout the community since mid-March. The goal of the exercise is to further increase the driver yielding rate at crosswalks, making Springfield more pedestrian friendly.
Yield Checks have been conducted so far at six locations throughout Springfield, resulting in an average driver yield rate of 51%. On average, officers pull over and issue educational warnings to about 30 drivers per event.
“So far, Yield Checks have been a great way to educate about the severity of this issue in Springfield,” explains City Traffic Safety Professional Mandy Buettgen-Quinn. “If drivers don’t pay attention and they don’t yield to pedestrians, it puts people on foot in danger. As we transition from warnings to citations, we are emphasizing that crosswalk laws are a matter of life safety.”
The May 3 Yield Check event will be conducted at the intersection of Bennett Street and Delaware Avenue in the Delaware Neighborhood.
How 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 vehicle 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. The grant provides overtime pay for officers who volunteer to work additional hours through the program.
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]
# # #
Media Contact: Communication Coordinator Kristen Milam at 573-819-3713 or [email protected].