New crosswalk to help ensure pedestrian safety

The city of Yuma recently invested in nearly $170,000 on a new crosswalk on 8th Street near 22nd Avenue in efforts to improve pedestrian safety.

The pedestrian-activated crosswalk has audible features and lights to help both pedestrians and drivers, according to Lori Franklin, spokesperson for the Yuma Police Department.

“We are just hoping to reap the benefits from it by making the streets safer for pedestrians to cross and alerting drivers that are coming down the street,” Franklin said.

There have been several pedestrian-involved accidents over the last year. Just last week a 70-year-old woman lost her life due to a hit-by-vehicle accident.

Franklin hopes the additional crosswalk will be taken advantage of.

“Pedestrians got to be able to go down there and use that. Have the patience to go down a couple blocks use that to cross safely and not just say I am here and I am going to dart across the street and hope for the best,” Franklin said.

She also suggested that people should wear bright clothes when walking during the evening hours and to always refer to a crosswalk.

The city of Yuma is in the works to install similar crosswalks on Avenue B over the next year.