[August 26, 2011] Officials promote pedestrian safety crucial Tweet TAHLEQUAH, Aug 26, 2011 (Tahlequah Daily Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- More people have taken to walking, either as a form of exercise or because of high gasoline prices -- and law enforcement officials want them to be cautious when walking around traffic. Tahlequah Police Chief Clay Mahaney said pedestrians can take heed of a few simple suggestions to make their journeys safe and avoid being hit by a vehicle. "We suggest they walk on sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible," he said. "If they choose to walk at night, they need to wear something light-colored and carry a flashlight or some type of illumination." Mahaney said Tahlequah has always had a good record for pedestrian safety. The city has been honored in past years for its safety record. "We have crossing guards and/or police officers around the schools at opening and closing times to make sure the students get into and out of school safely," he said. "Parents and students alike are urged to use crosswalks." Statistics available online from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office show Cherokee County had four pedestrian crashes in 2010. Three were on city streets, and the other was on a rural state highway. Nearly 500 pedestrian crashes occurred on city streets last year across Oklahoma. Mahaney said patrol officers work around school zones to watch for speeding drivers. He said it's very important for drivers to watch their speed and look for people crossing the street around schools. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Kane Wyatt said, in a previous story, that pedestrians should only walk on the left side of the road or on the shoulder facing traffic. He also said pedestrians are also required to yield to approaching vehicles. "We have quite a few people around here who walk for exercise and as a mode of getting around," Mahaney said. "It's important they be cautious when they're out." Mahaney also suggests walking with at least one other person, especially after dark. Sheriff Norman Fisher said pedestrian safety is needed even more in some ways in rural areas. "There are fewer sidewalks and places to walk," he said. "We also have less lighting in some of the rural areas, so we suggest walking during daylight hours." Fisher said drivers should also slow down and look when approaching the rural schools. Seventy-five of the 670 pedestrian crashes in Oklahoma last year occurred in September, and 74 others happened in October. Sixty-eight of the 670 crashes were fatal and 10 of those fatalities occurred in June. The largest number of the fatalities, 13, occurred when pedestrians crossed the road at places other than intersections. Of the 670 crashes, 108 happened on Tuesdays, and 15 of the 68 fatalities took place on a Friday. Ten of the 68 fatalities were between 6 and 7 p.m. The 68 pedestrian fatalities were more than double the 32 reported in 2009 and were the most since 1997, when 70 pedestrians were killed on Oklahoma roads. Learn more Read all of the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office pedestrian crash information by logging onto www.ok.gov/ohso/ documents/532010FB Pedestrians.pdf. ___ (c)2011 the Tahlequah Daily Press (Tahlequah, Okla.) Visit the Tahlequah Daily Press (Tahlequah, Okla.) at www.tahlequahdailypress.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]