Hazelwood drivers get crosswalk safety ‘education’

Here’s why police were in outer East Portland, across from Glendoveer, with their eyes on a pedestrian crossing …

In the Hazelwood neighborhood, this SUV clearly doesn’t plan to stop for the PBOT “designated walker” at this well marked crosswalk, forcing her to step back.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Portland Police Bureau (PPB) again teamed up, conducting another “crosswalk safety education and enforcement action” adjacent to Glendoveer Golf Course, along NE Glisan Street at NE 134th Place on January 23, from noon until 1:30 p.m.

“Last year we had traffic-related 34 fatalities, and many of them were pedestrians,” said PPB Traffic Division Sergeant Engstrom, sitting astride his motorcycle waiting of his turn to observe drivers – and educate any errant motor vehicle operators about pedestrian safety.

After observing a driver “bully” the pedestrian, PPB Traffic Division Sergeant Engstrom rolls out to stop, and perhaps ticket, the driver.

“The City’s goals for their ‘Vision Zero’ program is to reduce the number of fatalities to zero by the year 2025, by means of education, enforcement, and roadway design,” Engstrom told East Portland News.

“We’re at this location, selected in cooperation along with PBOT, because NE Glisan Street is one of our ‘High Crash Corridors’,” Engstrom said. “And already, it’s clear there are many drivers not yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk, making this a good location for enforcement and education.”

Speaking with a Portland Police Traffic Division officer is Portland Bureau of Transportation Public Information Officer Dylan Rivera.

“Each crosswalk enforcement action involves a designated pedestrian crossing at a marked or unmarked crosswalk while police monitor how people drive, bicycle, and walk [with relation to] to traffic safety laws,” said PBOT Public Information Officer Dylan Rivera who was observing the action.

This crosswalk, Rivera pointed out, is part of their Bureau’s “East Glisan Street Update”, between 102nd and 162nd avenues; this crossing was reconfigured so pedestrians only need to cross two auto traffic lanes at a time, and have a “refuge” in the center of the street.

The driver of this SUV either doesn’t know pedestrian safety laws, or chose to disregard them – and zooms past the “Designated Walker” …

… and then meets this Portland Police Traffic Division officer for a few moments of pedestrian safety reeducation.

“Crosswalk education and enforcement actions are an effective way to communicate traffic laws to people driving and walking,” Rivera said. “Our bureaus do education and enforcement actions in response to requests by community members, city traffic safety engineers, and Portland Police to educate the general public on the rules at marked and unmarked crossings,” Rivera noted.

More than just reminding drivers about pedestrian safety by issuing 12 citations and 5 warnings, they also talked with drivers regarding these infractions:

Failure to Carry proof of insurance: 3 citations
Passing a vehicle stopped for a crosswalk: 1 citation
Driving With a Suspended License : 5 citations
Failure to wear a seatbelt: 1 warning
Driving uninsured: 2 citations
Cell phone use: 2 citations
Switched plates: 1 citation
Failure to Register Vehicle: 1 citation
Careless Driving: 1 citation

At another crosswalk on NE Glisan Street, near Menlo Park Elementary School, another motorist is about to be provided with some pedestrian safety edification.

For those unaware, in Oregon every intersection – marked or unmarked – Is considered a pedestrian crosswalk. To brush up on traffic laws, without the expense of a citation, and from the comfort of your easy chair – CLICK HERE, for more information about rights and responsibilities involved in crossing streets.

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