Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Awareness will Continue Through Truman’s Homecoming Week

The Truman State University Department of Public Safety and the Kirksville Police Department along with Sigma Kappa sorority will be sponsoring a Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Awareness Program. The event will take place in conjunction with Homecoming week activities at Truman. Members of the Department of Public Safety and Sigma Kappa sorority will be handing out informational fliers and a treat to those seen using the crosswalks throughout the week at various times of the day. The Kirksville Police Department will increase patrols in the area, with special attention given to crosswalk violations. Also, the speed radar trailer provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, returns to campus and will be placed at different locations near crosswalks during the week.

Crosswalk safety is a growing concern on campus. Each year about 5,000 pedestrians are killed and 69,000 are injured in motor vehicle crashes, nationwide. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2004, in Missouri alone there were 81 pedestrians killed in accidents with motor vehicles. The Department of Public Safety would like to encourage pedestrians to use the crosswalks in and around campus as a means of safely crossing the streets. The Department would also like to make drivers more aware of the speed in which they travel on roads through campus.

“The goal of this program is to promote the awareness of pedestrians and drivers in and around campus and the need to use the crosswalks around campus,” according to Tom Johnson, director of Public Safety. “I also hope this gets the message out in a fun way in keeping with the Homecoming festivities of the week. My goal is to make this an annual program to increase the safety of everyone around the Truman campus.”
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