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Police Focus On Pedestrian Safety In Oakland

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Mar 25, 2009 2:47 pm US/Eastern

Police Focus On Pedestrian Safety In Oakland

Reporting
Jim Lokay
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Police officers spent part of the day handing out warnings and citations to dozens of drivers and pedestrians in Oakland.

As part of the state Department of Transportation's "Drive Safe PA" initiative, patrols were stationed along parts of Forbes Avenue between the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

The area was chosen because of the estimated 40,000 cars that pass through the area on an average day.

"You combine that with Pitt students, CMU students, then the hospitals and businesses, it's important to keep people on their toes," said PennDOT Safety Press Officer David Pritt.

Pitt student David Herlich says crossing Oakland streets can sometimes be a daunting task.

"People just aren't paying attention. They're playing on the phone or texting and they look up and I'm in the street," said Herlich.

While the sting concentrated on motorists, police officers confronted several pedestrians who ignored crossing signals.

"They need to be aware there are laws that pertain to them and are there for their safety. Our state laws are developed for all of the roadway users' safety," according to Stephen Patchan, Pittsburgh's Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator.

The operation was set up about a block away from the site of a high-profile pedestrian accident that happened last month.

Pitt Professor Sabina Deitrick was injured when she was struck by a Port Authority bus at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard.

The accident occurred days after a similar crackdown.

PennDOT's Pritt says that spurred the repeat occurrence.

"We had two other crashes within days of the last time I was here, so I saw the need for increased enforcement," said Pritt.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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