Crosswalk Safety Awareness Important for Both Pedestrians and Drivers

By Russell Cothren

UAPD Cpl. Gabe Golden during last year's Crosswalk Safety Day.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 14th annual Crosswalk Safety Awareness Day will take place at the University of Arkansas, across Fayetteville and the state from 8 a.m. to 5p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11.

The U of A event will be focused on the Garland Avenue and Maple Street intersection, which has some of the busiest crosswalks on campus. Campus volunteers from three sororities will be stationed at the crosswalks throughout the day, with University Police supervising the event.

The purpose of Crosswalk Safety Awareness Day is to make drivers aware that under both state and a city law they must yield to a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.  

Pedestrians also have a responsibility to look up from their phones and check for traffic before they enter a crosswalk. Pedestrians and drivers should make eye with each other at a crosswalk.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has proclaimed Crosswalk Safety Awareness Day in Arkansas and Mayor Lioneld Jordan has proclaimed it in Fayetteville, where the event originated 14 years ago.

The event is sponsored by the Community Policing Division of the Fayetteville Police Department and was inspired by participation in both the first Fayetteville Citizen’s Fire and Citizen’s Police Academies. Both the University of Arkansas Police Department and the Fayetteville Police Department have noted that the event has made a difference in increasing awareness and aiding the safety of both pedestrians and motorists.