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Cooperative Agreement for Cooperative Agreement for Pedestrian Enforcement ProgramsPedestrian Enforcement Programs

Pro Bike/Pro Walk ConferencePro Bike/Pro Walk ConferenceMadison, WisconsinMadison, WisconsinSeptember 6, 2006September 6, 2006

Sergeant David A. BlackSergeant David A. Black University of Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Police Department Police Department dblack@admin.umass.edu dblack@admin.umass.edu http://www.umass.edu/umpd http://www.umass.edu/umpd (413) 545-2121(413) 545-2121

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Project ManagementProject Management

University of Massachusetts Police University of Massachusetts Police DepartmentDepartment

The University of Massachusetts Traffic The University of Massachusetts Traffic Safety Research Program (UMassSAFE) Safety Research Program (UMassSAFE)

The National Highway Traffic Safety The National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationAdministration

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The University of Massachusetts The University of Massachusetts Traffic Safety Research ProgramTraffic Safety Research Program(UMassSAFE)  is a multidisciplinary (UMassSAFE)  is a multidisciplinary traffic safety research programtraffic safety research programhoused in the University of housed in the University of Massachusetts Transportation Massachusetts Transportation Center at the University of Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Massachusetts Amherst.

At UMassSAFE, we seek to reduce At UMassSAFE, we seek to reduce the frequency and severity of the frequency and severity of crashes through the rigorous crashes through the rigorous examination of safety-related data – examination of safety-related data – both traditional and nontraditional - to both traditional and nontraditional - to better understand crashes, driverbetter understand crashes, driverbehavior, and related factors. behavior, and related factors.

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National Highway Traffic Safety National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationAdministration

OOur mission:ur mission:

Save lives, prevent Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce injuries, reduce vehicle-related vehicle-related crashescrashes

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University of Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Pedestrian ProblemPedestrian Problem

One pedestrian injury One pedestrian injury every four months of every four months of academic year academic year

2 recent fatal2 recent fatal

2 recent near fatal2 recent near fatal

Many “near misses”Many “near misses”

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University of Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Demonstration Project PlanDemonstration Project Plan

4 E’s of Pedestrian Safety4 E’s of Pedestrian Safety Education,Education, Enforcement,Enforcement, Engineering and Engineering and EvaluationEvaluation

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University of Massachusetts Police University of Massachusetts Police Department Focus AreaDepartment Focus Area

Education (10/05) and Education (10/05) and Enforcement (11/05)Enforcement (11/05)

Decoy ProgramDecoy Program

Judicial Review Judicial Review Meet with Clerk Magistrates and Meet with Clerk Magistrates and Judges for input on violationJudges for input on violation

Creation of Training model for Creation of Training model for Colleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities

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UMPD FundingUMPD Funding

OT funding for OT funding for Education and Education and Enforcement PatrolEnforcement Patrol

EquipmentEquipment

Printing: Flyers, Printing: Flyers, Posters and Bus Posters and Bus CardsCards

1010

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MassSAFE Focus AreasMassSAFE Focus AreasData Data Collection/AnalysisCollection/AnalysisEngineering Engineering ImprovementsImprovementsEvaluation ApproachesEvaluation Approaches– Roadway InventoryRoadway Inventory– Crash DataCrash Data– Citation DataCitation Data– ObservationsObservations– Impaired Pedestrian Impaired Pedestrian

ObservationsObservations

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Massachusetts Pedestrian Massachusetts Pedestrian Fatalities and Serious Injuries, Fatalities and Serious Injuries,

20042004

82 pedestrian fatalities

17% of MA traffic fatalities

268 non fatal incapacitating injuries  

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Program GoalsProgram Goals

Increase citations for motorist Increase citations for motorist violations of crosswalk laws by violations of crosswalk laws by 15% 15% (Goal met)(Goal met)

Increase motorists and Increase motorists and pedestrians complying with pedestrians complying with laws by 15% laws by 15% (Goal met)(Goal met)

Implement policy for violators Implement policy for violators of pedestrian crosswalk of pedestrian crosswalk violations violations (Not yet)(Not yet)

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University of MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts

The Amherst campus:The Amherst campus:

has a residential has a residential population of 13,000 population of 13,000 students students

A total of over 24,000 A total of over 24,000 studentsstudents

A daytime high of A daytime high of over 30,000 peopleover 30,000 people

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UMass Amherst PopulationUMass Amherst PopulationHigh use of High use of walking/bicycling/skate-walking/bicycling/skate-boards as transportation boards as transportation meansmeans

Concentrated population Concentrated population with high alcohol usewith high alcohol use

Well-suited for addressing Well-suited for addressing pedestrian safetypedestrian safety

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University of Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Pedestrian ProblemPedestrian Problem

Walking campusWalking campus

High pedestrian/ High pedestrian/ vehicle interactionvehicle interaction

14,000 vehicles 14,000 vehicles registered to parkregistered to park

Visitors to large Visitors to large audience venuesaudience venues

Parking on perimeter, Parking on perimeter, buildings in centerbuildings in center

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Recent Pedestrian IssuesRecent Pedestrian Issues

Fall 2005: Education Fall 2005: Education and Enforcement and Enforcement PeriodPeriod

Spring 2006Spring 2006– 6 pedestrian/vehicular 6 pedestrian/vehicular

accidents on campus accidents on campus in 3 month periodin 3 month period

– A total of 11 A total of 11 pedestrians injuredpedestrians injured

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Motorist ViolationsMotorist Violations

M.G.L. Chapter 89 Section 11M.G.L. Chapter 89 Section 11

Motorists must yield to Motorists must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalkpedestrians in a crosswalk

Passing a vehicle stopped Passing a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian in the for a pedestrian in the roadwayroadway

$200 fine$200 fine

MGL Chapter 75 Section MGL Chapter 75 Section 32A32A

UMass Article 4 Section 24UMass Article 4 Section 24

Motorists must yield to Motorists must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalkpedestrians in a crosswalk

$35 fine$35 fine

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Pedestrian ViolationPedestrian Violation

MGL Chapter 90 Section 18AMGL Chapter 90 Section 18A

Pedestrians, use of ways; rules Pedestrians, use of ways; rules and regulations; violations; and regulations; violations; noticenotice

11stst, 2, 2nd and nd and 33rd rd violations-$1.00violations-$1.00

44thth and subsequent violations- and subsequent violations-$2.00$2.00

UMass Article and SectionUMass Article and Section

Not applicableNot applicable

2020

Achieving Program GoalsAchieving Program Goals

Program will Program will highlight:highlight:– Need for dataNeed for data– Multi-disciplinary Multi-disciplinary

approachapproach– Introduce Introduce

enforcement enforcement concepts outlined in concepts outlined in “Law Enforcement “Law Enforcement Pedestrian Safety”Pedestrian Safety”

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Program ResultsProgram Results

The initial results are The initial results are encouraging with increases in encouraging with increases in the percentage of yielding the percentage of yielding vehicles at both experimental vehicles at both experimental locations for both the before-locations for both the before-during and before-after during and before-after comparisons.  comparisons.  

By comparison, the control By comparison, the control locations had mixed results locations had mixed results with an overall decrease in the with an overall decrease in the percentage of yielding percentage of yielding vehicles.vehicles.

Full evaluation is still Full evaluation is still underway.  underway.