Under North Carolina law, a driver must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing a highway within any clearly marked crosswalk. Pedestrians, however, must act responsibly. It is the duty of pedestrians to look before starting across a highway, and to exercise reasonable care for their own safety. It’s always a good idea for pedestrians to make eye-contact a driver before stepping off the curb and never run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.
With town traffic bustling, it has become increasingly more difficult for pedestrians to cross Broad and Main Streets, especially during lunch-hour, rush hour and on Saturday afternoons – all high traffic times and all key shopping times. According to a study performed by the Fuquay-Varina Revitalization Association, merchants in the historic area are enthusiastic about the placement of the pedestrian crosswalk signs. Lorraine Dotson, owner of Fuquay Sports Shop located at 501 Broad Street noticed a big difference when a test sign was put out on Broad Street during the holiday season. According to Dotson, “There’s a lot to look at as you come through downtown and the sign really draws your attention to the crosswalk and helps remind you to stop.”
To check out a comprehensive list of pedestrian laws in North Carolina, go to http://www.ncdot.org/transit/bicycle/laws/laws_pedlaws.html. If you have comments or questions about the new pedestrian signs in downtown Fuquay-Varina, please contact Susan Weis at 552-0848 or susanweisfvra@yahoo.com.
Post a Comment
