Milwaukee is making extra efforts to ensure that the people behind the wheels of our City vehicles follow the StreetShare pledge.  All our professional drivers from police officers to public works employees already receive regular training on motor vehicle safety.  But in the coming months we will be emphasizing the need to follow those rules of the road most often overlooked by the vast majority of motorists on the road.

We will pay particular attention to the requirement that drivers yield the right of way to pedestrians attempting to cross the street at a crosswalk.  One of the educational tools we will use is the diagram below that illustrates just what a crosswalk is:

 

Many drivers don't realize that they have to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Drivers are required by law to yield the right of way to pedestrians in a marked and unmarked crosswalk. The illustration above shows 3 different types of crosswalks. Motorists should watch ahead for pedestrians at or approaching the curb and slow or stop to allow people to cross the street. Pedestrians must give motorists appropriate and safe distance to stop before stepping off the curb.  A good rule of thumb for a safe stopping distance on a street with a speed limit of 30mph or lower is half a block.  Pedestrians need to be assertive, but carefull.