On July 1, the Springfield Police Department conducted extra crosswalk enforcement at the High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) on North Glenstone Avenue. The enforcement was in response to six pedestrian deaths in the city so far this year.

Safer Streets SGF Campaign

Part of the Safer Streets SGF campaign, which started in 2023, it was intended to improve both pedestrian and driver compliance with traffic laws, as well as increase awareness of Missouri’s hands-free driving law.

Officers enforced laws regarding unsafe pedestrian behavior, including illegal midblock crossings, crossing outside the designated pedestrian facilities, walking in the roadway where sidewalks are available, and crossing diagonally instead of using the shortest legal crossing route.

Throughout a two-hour enforcement period, nine citations were given — eight to pedestrians, one to a driver. In addition, 22 pedestrians safely crossed the street utilizing the HAWK signal.

Public Affairs Officer and SPD spokesperson Cris Swaters said the traffic unit educated both drivers and pedestrians displaying unsafe or illegal behaviors through enforcement.

The Glenstone signal was chosen because of the large amount of traffic that goes through the area due to various businesses, as well as because of the HAWK signal in the location.

According to SPD, further traffic operations are being planned for the remainder of 2026.

Best practice, according to SPD, will always be to use crosswalks or HAWK signals when available. When not available, pedestrians should take the shortest possible route at 90 degrees, not diagonally. Swaters also recommended pedestrians try to make eye contact with drivers.

More information on pedestrian safety can be found via SGF Yields, a nationally recognized pedestrian safety campaign founded in 2017 by Springfield Public Works in tandem with SPD.

Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.