The Nevada Department of Public Safety says there were 69 traffic fatalities involving pedestrians last year. The Nevada Highway Patrol held a Joining Forces campaign at the crosswalk of Center and Pine Streets on Monday to crack down on drivers' behavior related to pedestrians.
Last year at this time, there were only 15 pedestrian traffic-related fatalities. So far in 2020 there's already 19. So, Nevada Highway Patrol wanted to remind people to be safe.
Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Cole Sonnemann is one of three troopers in cruisers who helped out the Joining Forces campaign on pedestrian safety. The other member of this group is Trooper Hannah DeGoey who was dressed in plain clothes walking back and forth across the street as cars drove quickly by. “As the pedestrian in today's operation it was pretty scary,” said Trooper DeGoey.
“While the pedestrian is crossing, if there is traffic going in one direction, you need to stay stopped until that pedestrian reaches the curb. If there is traffic in both directions, you need to stay stopped until they reach that center line,” said Trooper DeGoey.
When a car didn’t stop, Trooper DeGoey signaled one of the cruisers to ticket the driver of the car. “Laws concerning pedestrian safety are clear, come to a stop if you see a pedestrian in a crosswalk,” said DeGoey.
Cha Ving was one of 25 people who were ticketed for failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian. “When I was at that intersection back there on the straight away, there was no single lady in the crosswalk. The lady was still on the sidewalk when I went through,” said Ving.
Trooper Sonnemann says it costs around $200 when someone gets cited for failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian. But the difference in stopping a minute to let someone cross could mean life or death. So drivers need to have enough room in front of them to stop. And they need to pay attention when they come to a crosswalk.
“Drivers need at least 160 feet in order to perceive the pedestrian, react, and then make any move to react to the pedestrian and stop,” said Trooper Sonnemann.
"When you see a pedestrian enter a cross walk, you as the driver, need to be aware, slow down come to a complete stop before you come to the crosswalk,” said Trooper DeGoey.
The Nevada Highway Patrol says they are planning more pedestrian safety campaigns in the future
