Springfield Standard

The City of Springfield is gearing up to enhance driver crosswalk compliance with the resumption of the "Yield Checks" enforcement program starting April 17. "Every year, around sixty to seventy pedestrians get struck by a car in Springfield," noted Traffic Safety Professional Mandy Buettgen-Quinn. "If we want pedestrians to use our crosswalks instead of crossing mid-block, we first need to make sure our crosswalks are safe. We're thrilled the Springfield Police Department continues to partner with SGF Yields to make pedestrian safety a priority."

The initiative, funded by a $21,120 grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation, will see the Springfield Police Department, in collaboration with SGF Yields, conduct weekly driver Yield Checks at well-marked crosswalk locations. The goal is to increase the local yielding rate at crosswalks through education-focused high-visibility enforcement, aiming to create a more pedestrian-friendly community.

"Crosswalk Yield Checks are a way to give the community a friendly nudge to obey the rules," Buettgen-Quinn emphasized. "For the first month, officers will hand out warnings and educational materials to those who don't comply. After that, citations will be issued."

According to quarterly assessments, Springfield drivers currently yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk about 51 percent of the time. The initiative aims to improve this rate, as national studies show that regular educational enforcement activities can result in 70 percent or more of drivers yielding at crosswalks.

The operation of Crosswalk Yield Checks involves three police officers stationed at a designated crosswalk for approximately four hours, monitoring driver compliance. One officer acts as a decoy pedestrian, another as a spotter, while the third is in a patrol car ready to stop non-compliant drivers. Signage will alert drivers of the Yield Check location, where warnings and educational materials will be provided to violators initially, with citations issued for repeated violations.

The public will receive advance notice of Crosswalk Yield Check locations through news releases and social media, with results of the exercise also shared with the community. Locations are determined by Springfield Public Works and Springfield Police Department in consultation with citizens through the SGF Yields Citizen Action Group.

For more information on Crosswalk Yield Checks and the SGF Yields pedestrian safety program, individuals are encouraged to visit springfieldmo.gov/sgfyields, follow SGF Yields on Facebook, or email [email protected].