Crosswalk abuse

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Story Published: Feb 4, 2010 at 5:03 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 5, 2010 at 12:02 AM MDT

By Steven Pope

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REXBURG - "It's somebody's life they're playing with," said Rexburg Police Officer, Kent Chalmers. Just in the past couple of years there has been two fatalities on 2nd West, not to mention numerous injuries on crosswalks around BYU-Idaho's campus.

"I can sit there during the daytime, and make traffic stops all day long," said Rexburg Police Officer Rick Schmitt.

Officer Schmitt is talking about the H.A.W.K. (High Intensity Activated CrossWalK) light on 2nd West. Many motorists drive right through the flashing red lights, oblivious. Adding to the problem are pedestrians who aren't using the H.A.W.K. light correctly.

"They run out in front of the cars, thinking the cars will stop for them no matter what because they're a pedestrian," said Chalmers. "He didn't even push the button." Chalmers approached the student and asked him if he knew he needed to push the button.

"I did not know that actually," answered the student.

This crosswalk isn't the only problem area. Over on Main Street and College Avenue is another abused crosswalk. Notice how the truck is stopped on the right, but the red car zips right through the crosswalk.

"I didn't see him because the big truck was blocking him," said the driver.

"They're probably stopped for a pedestrian, and you have to stop. And that in itself warrants a ticket," explained Chalmers.

That H.A.W.K. crosswalk cost the city $85,000. When City Hall installed it they cited a national study that H.A.W.K. lights get a 97-percent compliance. Rexburg Police have found that compliance is no where even close to that number.

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