FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Continuing public education, crosswalk improvements, amendments to local crosswalk regulations and now weekly “Yield Check” enforcement activities are making a difference in local driving habits. First quarter crosswalk assessments conducted through the City’s SGF Yields pedestrian safety program show driver compliance has risen to an average of 47% across Springfield. This number represents an improvement of 10 percentage points compared to first quarter 2020.
The quarterly assessment, performed by Springfield Public Works Traffic Operations division since 2017, evaluates driver compliance at six crosswalk sites with similar characteristics. Two locations are studied every quarter as a control group. The remaining sites are selected from each of the four City Council zones. Results from each location are averaged to produce a snapshot of driver compliance across the city.
“Unlike our recent ‘Yield Check’ operations with the Springfield Police Department, our quarterly crosswalk studies are not announced ahead of time or signed throughout duration,” explains Traffic Safety Professional Mandy Buettgen-Quinn. “This allows Public Works staff to get a better insight into what the average pedestrian is experiencing at our crosswalks at locations throughout town.”
For more information on crosswalk compliance studies and the City’s efforts to increase pedestrian safety, follow SGF Yields on facebook at facebook.com/sgfyields or visit the program webpage at springfieldmo.gov/sgfyields.
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For more information, contact Communication Coordinator Kristen Milam at 573-819-3713 or [email protected].