New pedestrian-way signs being installed in states like Wisconsin could help reduce the risk of injuries and deaths caused by pedestrian accidents in Oklahoma. The overhead traffic signs are made up of a 31-foot mast and a 20-foot horizontal arm that extends 19 feet above the roadway, and use day-glow yellow paint to enhance their …
New pedestrian-way signs being installed in states like Wisconsin could help reduce the risk of injuries and deaths caused by pedestrian accidents in Oklahoma. The overhead traffic signs are made up of a 31-foot mast and a 20-foot horizontal arm that extends 19 feet above the roadway, and use day-glow yellow paint to enhance their visibility by motorists. Milwaukee’s Department of Public Works has begun installing the traffic signs, which are visually prominent and a departure from the pentagon-shaped signs familiar to city residents, on dangerous roadways throughout the city. With the high rate of pedestrian accidents in Oklahoma City and across the state, Oklahoma could benefit from implementing these new pedestrian-way signs as well. If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in Oklahoma, consult our knowledgeable lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center to explore your possible compensation options.
Preventing Pedestrian Accidents
The latest pedestrian traffic signs to be installed in Milwaukee came in response to a campaign by a local resident and his neighbors, who sought to reduce traffic speed on Clement Avenue, a street “used as a shortcut from Oklahoma to Kinnickinnic [avenues],” which has no stop signs to slow cars down. With considerable pedestrian activity in that area, city residents believed that stop signs would help protect the safety of pedestrians getting out of parked cars, walking their dogs and disembarking from city buses. After conducting a speed analysis on Clement Avenue, the Department of Public Works determined that neither stop signs nor yield signs were warranted. “Stop signs are not used to slow traffic, but to allow vehicles to safely pass through an intersection,” noted Milwaukee traffic engineer Jeffrey Polenske. Instead, the city installed the overhead pedestrian sign, because it “provides the greatest level of notice,” said Polenske.
Our Experienced Attorneys Can Help
The overhead pedestrian-way signs are designed to caution motorists to slow down and watch for pedestrians who may be crossing the street or preparing to cross. After the pedestrian traffic sign was installed on Clement Avenue, Alderman Tony Zielinksi planned to propose another set of overhead pedestrian-way signs for other areas where pedestrian accidents may be a recurring problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrian accidents account for about 12% of all highway fatalities involving motor vehicles, and most pedestrian accident deaths occur at non-intersections (more than 75%) and roadways without crosswalks (more than 40%). If you have suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident in Oklahoma City, or elsewhere in Oklahoma, consult our experienced attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center to discuss your legal options.