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| Police enforcement increases
on Rivers Street |
by
Stephanie Rimmer
Staff Writer |
Josh Brown | Chief Photographer
University Police
increased traffic citations at the beginning of May
in an effort to curb speeding and protect pedestrians
along Rivers Street.
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Concern for the safety of pedestrian students
trying to cross Rivers Street caused an increase in traffic
enforcement.
The traffic enforcement on Rivers Street was increased on
or about May 1. This was done after the removal of the crosswalk
traffic light at the intersection of Center Street and Rivers
Street.
The crosswalk was removed by the NC Department of Transportation
because the pole had rusted and was considered a safety hazard,
said University Police Chief Gunther Doerr.
Between January and May, 84 traffic citations were issued
on campus. Since the increased enforcement began, 103 traffic
citations have been issued.
“Our enforcement goals on Rivers Street are to slow traffic
down and to protect pedestrians trying to cross campus streets,”
Doerr said.
“I try to avoid walking along Rivers Street,” junior
Crystal Wolfe said. “I used to have to for a technology
class and there seemed to be no respect from the motorists
driving by. One time I even remember being splashed with water
because a car was driving by too fast.”
For the month of July, University Police have initiated over
250 vehicle stops. The vast majority of these stops were for
speeding.
Of these stops, 58 resulted in the driver being issued a North
Carolina state citation.
The remaining were given either a written warning citation
or a verbal warning.
Wolfe said she felt safe crossing Rivers Street at most designated
crosswalks, but not at the pedestrian crosswalk in front of
Kerr Scott Hall.
“We have been warning, and in some cases citing, drivers
of vehicles who fail to yield to pedestrians who are in marked
crosswalks,” Doerr said.
The University Police will continue to be aggressive concerning
speeding throughout the 2003-2004 school year; more so than
in previous years.
Officers will be patrolling especially
heavy in August, as they anticipate the large amount of traffic
at the start of the fall semester, Maj. Larry Foster said. |
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