Crosswalks- Friend or Foe?

In the past year, there have been a number of incidents involving pedestrians being injured while crossing the street. According to state law, pedestrians always have the right of way in a cross walk, but what happens when vehicles refuse to stop? In this age of iPhones and Blackberrys, distracted driving is becoming commonplace on our roadways. I spoke with Captain Tom Stofer of the Auburn Police Department about the issue and he explained a variety of solutions to the problem. With the addition of solar reflectors and lights, the crosswalks are much more visible at night. Although these additions make the crosswalks safer, it is not a guaranteed fix. Drivers need to slow down, and pedestrians need to be more aware when crossing the street.