The crosswalk lights improve safety, but only if the button is pushed
By Jessie Hethcoat
If a pedestrian is hit by a motor vehicle going 40 miles an hour, statistics show that person has an 85 percent chance of dying, according to the Department of Transportation of Oregon.
UP does not want anyone taking that chance.
The City of Portland, working with the University, recently installed a pedestrian activated light system on the crosswalk on Willamette Boulevard.
Establishing a clearer message to motorists, the flashing yellow lights provide a safer way for pedestrians to cross the street near the university's main entrance.
James Kuffner, assistant vice president for Human Resources and Administration, is the university liason to the surrounding UP neighborhood and was the administrator in charge of the new crosswalk's production.
Recently, however, Kuffner and other administrators have noticed that some pedestrians are not pressing the button that illuminates the sidewalk lights.
"When you come down the sidewalk on the main entry, the box with the button on it is a little inconvenient," Kuffner said. "The temptation is to take the angle and cut across, not pressing the button."
This detour to press the crosswalk button is a matter of five or six steps, yet many people do not press the button when returning home from campus for this very reason.
Last year ,before the crosswalk was illuminated, ASUP wrote a resolution asking the University to make the crosswalk safer.
The crosswalk light project, Kuffner states, was difficult to manage because of problems with the City of Portland.
"It had a tortuous path from early discussion to design," Kuffner said.
Kuffner explains that even getting the first crosswalk installed in front of the university was difficult to pull off.
The City was reluctant to change the set up of Willamette Boulevard because it would complicate the traffic patterns of the street.
"Eventually, we put a condition of approval on ourselves and paid for the crosswalk to be installed," Kuffner said. "We couldn't wait on the city to change their minds."
This year, the University decided to install lights in the crosswalk to make it even safer.
However, the City of Portland delayed giving the University a decision. Finally, the City compromised with UP to install the model of crosswalk on Willamette now.
This model is fueled by a solar battery that is able to live off its charge in the winter months, requiring only a small amount of power to operate.
According to Kuffner and the City of Portland, pedestrians are four times safer with the addition of the crosswalk lights.
Prior to the installation of the lights, Kuffner explains, it was touch-and-go whether or not motorists would stop.
Sophomore Gabby Hansen saw this in effect.
"I used to see cars zipping through the crosswalk all the time while I was waiting to cross," Hansen said. "A lot of the time, people wouldn't even slow down or stop unless you were already walking through it."
The crosswalk lights have alleviated much of this problem.
"Now, the lights flash for 15 to 20 seconds, and it's much more clear that motorists are required to stop," Kuffner said
Not only is it much safer to slow or stop at crosswalks when people are waiting. It's the law.
According to Oregon state law ORS 811.028 drivers must stop and remained stopped until pedestrians clear the driver's lane and up to two lanes afterward.
If a pedestrian is in a safety buffer when the vehicle enters the crosswalk, the driver's fine is over $200.
Statistics show that pedestrians often pay an even higher price: Pedestrians account for 10 to 15 percent of traffic fatalities each year.
The failure of drivers to yield to a pedestrian is the driver's error three out of four times in motor vehicle-pedestrian crashes.
Half of the pedestrians who are hit by cars each year are hit while in a crosswalk.
Sophomore Andrew Hudak believes that the new crosswalk lights have made a difference.
"I think it makes a big difference," Hudak said. "It makes crossing the street at the main entrance as safe as it is at the Portsmouth traffic light."
Even so, the new crosswalk function is the pedestrian's responsibility.
"Even if it's out of your way, please press the button because the effect it has on motorists is huge," Kuffner said.
