Pedestrian Safety Education

On Thursday, May 29, 2025, the Newport Police Department conducted its first Pedestrian Safety Education Enforcement operation in over 10 years. As the summer months approach, we anticipate an increase in visitors to our city, as well as increased pedestrian traffic. As such, the goal of the operation was to educate drivers of the importance of pedestrian safety, especially while they’re in crosswalks. As a reminder, all intersections in Oregon are crosswalks, whether they’re marked or not.

In 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 7300 pedestrians were killed, and they estimate over 68,000 pedestrians were injured across the US. Newport is not immune to these statistics. During the operation our “pedestrian” made 48 passes across Highway 101 in 1.5 hours, Newport Police reported that during that time only 4 vehicles failed to stop or remain stopped for the pedestrian. With driver education as the goal of the operation, all drivers who were stopped were given written warnings and a pamphlet regarding Oregon crosswalk laws.

In addition to the 4 vehicles that were stopped, 1 pedestrian was also stopped after the pedestrian was observed running across traffic, mid-block. It is unlawful for pedestrians to cross mid-block, and the pedestrian was given a written warning for Fail to Yield to a Vehicle (ORS 814.040). Questions about the process we used while conducting this education enforcement operation have been asked, specifically why we gave advance notice and why we used traffic cones. We used the Oregon Department of Transportation as well as Oregon Impact guidelines to safely conduct the operation, with the primary goal being safety for pedestrians, drivers, and officers. 

The traffic cones were used to mark a safe stopping distance, which was calculated by assuming a car is traveling 10 mph over the posted speed limit and adding a 2-second reaction time. Thus, ample time is allowed for the driver to see the pedestrian and come to a complete stop, well before reaching the crosswalk. Using this calculation for the 25-mph zone the operation was being conducted, cones were placed at 161 feet before a vehicle entered the crosswalk.

During the operation, the pedestrian did not attempt to step into the crosswalk if there was a vehicle within the safety zone, providing each driver the opportunity to recognize there was a pedestrian, react to the pedestrian, and come to a complete and safe stop before entering the crosswalk. Newport Police and other local law enforcement give advanced notification when they conduct these pedestrian safety operations. The goal is for everyone to be thinking about pedestrian safety, and the longer these operations are advertised, the more drivers it reaches. Lincoln City police department will also be holding pedestrian safety operations throughout the summer months.