Police stepping up crosswalk enforcement in downtown

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FARMINGTON – Local police are stepping up their enforcement around pedestrian crossings in the downtown this month, in an effort to improve crosswalk safety.

According to Police Chief Jack Peck, the department conducted two details aimed at educating both pedestrians and motorists about crosswalk safety. For pedestrians, Peck said in a statement released last week, the department was stressing the importance of using crosswalks and crossing lights, as well as looking both ways before crossing the street. For motorists, the department is reminding drivers that people in crosswalks have the right of way.

Peck noted that the department issued seven summons as a result of the two details. The summons were issued to drivers for failing to yield for pedestrians in crosswalks.

“The Farmington Police Department would like to remind motorists and pedestrians alike to be cautious and aware of their surroundings in the area of crosswalks,” Peck said.

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24 Comments

  1. I waited and watched while a man first crossed High street, and then Maine street. all while both walk lights were red, and the traffic light was green. Not a student – a portly adult man with a briefcase who strolled languidly.He held up traffic for most of a light cycle.
    Moments before, down by Dunkin Doughnuts, I waited for a pedestrian, a young woman, to walk across in the crosswalk- but she stopped and held up traffic for her friends so they could pull out of their parking spot. By the time the clueless friends figured out what she was doing, traffic backed up for a block.

    Then we have out of state motorists, who either have no clue about pedestrian right of way, or go way overboard, stopping for every student who appears that they might even be considering crossing, even if they are not near a marked crossing.

    It’s time to cite a few pedestrians as well as motorists.

  2. I agree with snowman. It is not always the motorist fault. The other day I was driving through downtown Farmington and a college student, whom I saw, was on a skateboard on the sidewalk, he then made a 90 degree turn and quickly moved into the crosswalk. I did not have time to stop without causing a four car pileup so I kept moving. The pedestrian flipped me off and mouthed something inappropriate to me. I thought looking both ways was common sense, but apparently not.

  3. people who do not yield for pedestrians in Crosswalks should be ticketed. People who jaywalk (because they are to lazy to walk over to the crosswalk should also be ticketed. The laws have to work both ways

  4. While I do believe that people need to stop for pedestrians, I also would have to say some people in this town take this too far. When I drive around town I often notice that pedestrians believe so much that they have the right of way on the crosswalks that they do not even look up from their feet when they walk across. While this is a problem with people who are driving, people who are walking across the street also need to respect the fact that cars can kill them and should try to be a little more aware when crossing the street. I would say that the police need to remind pedestrians of this because even though drivers are very good around here, if you went to a bigger city and tried to cross the crosswalk without looking, just because you had the right of way, you would be flattened by a truck in all of ten minutes!!!

  5. well i was taught to look both ways before crossing any road i dont care if im bird hunting and cross a dirt road i still look just common sense i really dont believe we should have to stop for people it just doesnt make sense
    I DONT

  6. I think it’s important for both drivers and pedestrians to be aware! I am particularly concerned about the crosswalk on Broadway, where it is often difficult to see a pedestrian until they are already crossing the street! It would be great to have a flashing light there, similar to the ones on lower Main Street.

  7. Concern Driver: Interesting that Farmington has a no skateboard ordinance. It is not enforced either. I believe it is from Anson to South street and includes High and Main Street.

    I acturally avoid Main and High especially during the meal times when there is more pedestrians. Unfortunately a person getting hit may be what it takes to wake them all up, not something we would want to see happen.

  8. I am glad they are talking to pedestrians as well— I crawl down that street because many times a pedestrian just steps out in front of you without looking at all. Pedestrians have the right of way but that does not mean they can step out just feet in front of a automobile and expect it to magically stop in time

  9. They should eliminate the last parking spot in front of Duncan Donuts on main st. You can’t see people in the crosswalk until they are in the traffic lane. You just don’t have time to stop without taking a chance of getting hit from behind.

  10. Ashley, you don’t stop for pedestrians? You are breaking the law. Its people like YOU that are the problem. Its a DOWNTOWN area, not the interstate. These are some very pedestrian unfriendly comments here. I am a pedestrian, I walk downtown most everyday to shop, run errands etc. (Spending $$$locally, not at wallyworld). About half of the drivers are courteous and will stop. The other half has no respect for pedestrians and stops looking extremely annoyed that they have to wait 5 seconds, or, doesn’t stop at all.
    Do you b*tch and complain when you have to stop for a school bus? (Probably). These are our laws “drivers” ,they work pretty well. FOLLOW THEM

  11. Just the other night I was passing through, and was observing the college students cause they have the “I am invincible” complex, and sure enough I had to slam on my brakes cause the college student just stepped right out in front of me with their eyes on their feet and never looked up. I almost blared my horn….almost.
    I also don’t know how many times the kids have their nose stuck in their cell phones, or their ear buds in. Or better yet they just stand there at the crosswalk with no intent to cross. It’s a no win situation, and the sad part is maybe one day a student will get hit due to lack of attention to their surroundings, and it would be by a tractor trailer…those guys can’t stop on a dime. Hopefully fining pedestrians too will wake them up to the dangers they present to motorists.

    Clear Communication would greatly assist in safe travels for all involved!

  12. Grasshopper I completely agree the students are some of the worst when it comes to looking both ways and using the lights when they cross in a cross walk, many a time I have a truck and trailer loaded with hay and am traveling down main st. and some college student completely oblivious to what is going on around them have just walked right into traffic while the speed limit is low around the college to keep out precious college children safe they seem to think that they are gods and we should all stop to allow them to cross in or out of the crosswalk because they are so important. Many a time I have had one of our local college students just walk out right in front of me without ever looking to see if anything is coming ! How do I know the are students you may ask? because they have their physics books in one hand and their phone in the other and are talking on their phone 9 out of ten times.

  13. Just last week I was tempted to write a letter to spout off about a student who was crossing Main St in front of Scott Hall. It was raining and foggy and visibility with windshield wipers and head lights was diminished. She was crossing the street wearing dark cloths and the only reason I saw her was because of her exposed hands. She was in a crosswalk and I did stop albeit close. I try to be diligent to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, but pose the question, why didn’t she take the time to push the crosswalk lights which were installed at tax payer expense to make crossing safer? In snowy weather, rain and fog, those lights allow a driver to know that someone is in the crosswalk. Even at 25 MPH tragedy could happen and we all have a responsibility to assist in keeping safe. Not pushing that warning light button, could have been carelessness, laziness or the invincible attitude, and really wouldn’t matter if a tragedy occurs especially when steps could be taken to prevent it. Pedestrians; use the crosswalks, push the warning lights button, wear brighter clothing or even reflective clothing on darker days, and drivers; go the speed limit and be alert, and we will all be safe.

  14. I fully agree that pedestrians have the right of way but my issue is around the college. There should be lights there because the college students wander across and sometimes it there can be dozens of them wandering across. Why not have a light so the students can all cross at once? It worked that way where I went to college and few people ever complained.

  15. I’ve seen the same many times Grasshopper— head down, earbuds in, walking straight out into the cross walk in front of cars never looking up for a sec—-as if they were crossing a hall in a building!

    I’ve lived in major cities– NYC, DC, PHILLY, Paris, London, Rome……..kids seriously, the cabbies in these places would run you down. Cars have to respect crosswalks but the pedestrian still has to look both ways before entering a crosswalk— if you step out a foot a front of a car that is going 20mph that is an accident caused by the pedestrian recklessness –it’s not the drivers fault. Your parents would have to pursue lengthy civil case to extract any compensation and likely could loose because it was reckless error on the pedestrians part

  16. Granted; both drivers and pedestrians can be a problem. But could the Public Works help us out a bit? If we walkers try to use the signaled crosswalk on Broadway and Main, it takes forever to cycle for the pedestrian walk signal, sometimes two lights in both directions. And when it eventually does, it’s on for a nanosecond: not even enough time to cross one direction. If you need to cross two directions, you’re out of luck. People become impatient with this and, instead, jay walk or use one of the mid-street crosswalks that force traffic to stop. A little accommodation would go a long way.
    And … about the Front Street “Bypass,” could drivers cut walkers some slack? It’s dangerous out there!

  17. Here’s another idea, a pedestrian bridge.
    A lot of these kids could stand to burn off a few more calories by going up and over.

  18. I to have had issues with pedestrians not paying attention to their own traffic signals. I was going through an intersection with a green light and there were pedestrians with a NO WALK signal that just decided it was time to go. It was nearly 9pm and really dark. They are lucky I saw them. I always yield to pedestrians, but when they have a STOP signal and I have a GO signal, they are lucky ..

  19. With everything I’ve witnessed from living and working in Farmington, I think the campus police should require all students to be trained in how to properly use crosswalks.

  20. i almost hit a university student last night as i was driving home in the rain in high street. she ran out of nowhere, without looking, into the street–presumably because she was afraid of her umbrella getting wet. i had to slam on my brakes on a wet road. i’ve also noticed the crosswalks on high street have multiplied to where they are placed at ridiculous intervals, anyplace a person could possibly want to cross now has a crosswalk. the result is traffic having to stop every ten feet for a gaggle of students. using front street from now on.

  21. As a driver it is my responsibility to drive safely and stop at the crosswalk when pedestrians need to cross. In my opinion it is also the responsibility of pedestrians to be sure the motorists have seen you and have a chance to stop before crossing. I was taught to stop and look both ways before crossing the street, regardless of having the right of way at a crosswalk. As a driver even going slowly I still need reaction time to someone crossing. I am happy to stop and let you cross but I need you to give me the chance to see you and stop safely!

  22. I agree with Anonymous Fan or snowman- fewer crosswalks in some areas, and a light or bridge for the pedestrians. Perhaps due to the general lack of “looking up from their feet” that so many of us cite… but it’s maddening to stop for one student at a crosswalk, then 2 at another crosswalk 10 feet on, and one or two more students at yet another crosswalk 20 feet later… when they could have all crossed together, in one place.

  23. I would love to see some of these jaywalkers walk through a city like Boston or New York and expect the drivers to stop for them when the Walk light is red!! This is a HUGE issue in Farmington!! It is not just college students, either.
    The crosswalks are hidden by parking spaces in several sections, but most notably, the one on Broadway by Reny’s and the one on Main St. by Dunkin’ Donuts. Many times I have almost hit a pedestrian crossing here because a car was parked and I couldn’t see them. I have begun looking under the cars to see if I can see any feet!
    Yes, the enforcement should go BOTH ways!

  24. Crossing is a concern for pedestrians as well as motorists. I’ve been on both sides. People, especially the college kids don’t pause to cue motorists of their intent and step right out without the use of the lights. I’ve seen a few close calls. In town the light isn’t long enough to get across and if you are trying to get diagonally across you have to wait for two light series. I’ve seen towns who have every third light be for pedestrian crossing only, (no cars moving), side to side as well as diagonally. Makes it safer for all and no right turn on red while walk light on.”

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