Springfield Standard

During October's Pedestrian Safety Month, SGF Yields announced a significant milestone in driver compliance at Springfield crosswalks. The program's third-quarter 2024 assessment revealed an average yield rate of 66.49% across six intersections, marking the highest rate since the pedestrian safety initiative began in 2017.

This improvement follows six months of crosswalk enforcement and ongoing infrastructure enhancements alongside public engagement efforts. Traffic Safety Professional Mandy Buettgen-Quinn noted, "Our data clearly shows that crosswalk enforcement is having a positive effect on all crosswalks," while emphasizing that enforcement is just one aspect of their broader pedestrian safety strategy.

The City’s Public Works Traffic Operations division conducts quarterly assessments to evaluate driver compliance at selected crosswalks. These assessments cover roadways with similar traffic speeds and characteristics, with two locations serving as control groups each quarter. Since the program's inception in 2017, when the yield rate was only 25%, these efforts have shown considerable progress.

In addition to these developments, SGF Yields is organizing its fourth annual Lantern Walk this Saturday in collaboration with six Springfield neighborhoods: Woodland Heights, Rountree, Delaware, West Central, Galloway Village, and Brentwood. "Families are encouraged to craft lanterns and walk a one-mile route through their neighborhood," said Buettgen-Quinn. "Along the way, they encounter stations where neighborhood volunteers provide tips on how to be safe walkers and mindful drivers."