Pedestrians don’t always have the right-of-way, but in crosswalks they do.
Des Moines police spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek said police share a growing concern with the public about pedestrian safety in crosswalks as more drivers are distracted and fewer are stopping to let people on foot cross. At the same time, the City of Des Moines is making efforts to become more pedestrian-friendly.
Twelve pedestrians have been killed by vehicles in Des Moines since 2023, and police recently issued 28 tickets to drivers who did not stop at crosswalks during a special two-hour enforcement project.
“A lot of it is the emphasis that we’re putting on making things accessible on foot, making things accessible by bike. We’re looking at all these things we want to make our community a little more interactive,” Parizek said.
“And there’s certainly a lack of awareness from a driver’s perspective about what’s going on around them because there are too many distractions, not just your phone, but life distractions.”
For roads to be safe for pedestrians and drivers, both must abide by the laws designed to keep Iowans safe.
“It’s important for everybody to know that phrase ‘share the road’ that we throw around so much, it truly is that simple,” Parizek said. “If we think about ourselves and we’re aware of everybody else and do what we can, we can help each other get through the day without a crash. It’s that simple.”
When do pedestrians have the right of way? When don’t they?
Iowa expanded the definition of pedestrian in 2024 to include not just a person on foot, but also those who use a pedestrian conveyance, such as electric scooters, bicycles or wheelchairs.
Pedestrians have the right-of-way at any given crosswalk. Some crosswalks have pedestrian crossing signs or yield signs, while others have flashing yellow lights.
Drivers must yield or stop when a pedestrian is crossing, or risk a simple misdemeanor with a $135 fine, according to state law.
Pedestrians must be in a crosswalk or at an intersection to have the right-of-way. If pedestrians cross a street without using a crosswalk, they must yield to all vehicles, according to state law. Not using a crosswalk can earn pedestrians a fine of $35 or more.
Meanwhile, Des Moines adopted the Vision Zero Transportation Safety Action Plan in 2023 in an effort to decrease traffic deaths and injuries and eliminate them by 2040. Des Moines was one of 70 cities in the United States to receive a grant for such a project, getting $13 million to help make roads safer for pedestrians.
Under the plan, the city added reflective traffic signal frames and school zone signs that tell drivers their speed and to “Slow Down!” and completed some lane reconfigurations, including on Forest Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and southeast 14th Street.
A Vision Zero report shows about 20 fewer serious crashes in 2024 than the year prior to the city implementing the plan.
Des Moines police begin crosswalk safety enforcement project
Des Moines police began a special enforcement project on crosswalk safety on Wednesday, Jan. 21, because of recent complaints that vehicles were not yielding to pedestrians and pedestrians were not properly using crosswalks.
Police began the project near Drake University and on Ingersoll Avenue.
DMPD issued 28 citations, 22 of which were given to drivers failing to yield to pedestrians, during the two-hour time period. Six were for other traffic-related charges.
“It’s mind-blowing how frequently it was happening,” Parizek said. “We’re fortunate that there aren’t more people hit.”
If there were more officers available during the special enforcement time, Parizek said there could have been at least four times as many citations.
Parizek said the effort is being well-received, and that police will “definitely do this again.”
“(Pedestrians) just assume everybody’s gonna stop,” Parizek said. “It was an eye-opening experience from an enforcement perspective.”
Future locations will be in pedestrian-heavy areas, including schools and shopping districts, such as at 42nd Street and Chamberlain Avenue, Parizek said.
Police also will issue citations to pedestrians who fail to yield and do not use crosswalks in future enforcement projects.
“Hopefully we make an impression on people and raise awareness as we get into those summer months where people are really going to be moving around on foot and on bike,” Parizek said. “We’re already getting that safety message to land, and people are taking a little more time just being a little more cautious.”
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dozens ticketed as Des Moines police target crosswalk violators
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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