The City of Cleveland is stepping up efforts to help keep you safe while walking around town.
Enhanced crosswalks are going in at a time when we are seeing a nationwide spike in the number of pedestrians killed by cars.
"Broken legs, abdominal injuries, chest injuries, head injuries," said Dr. Louis Horwitz. That list is just some of what the University Hospitals emergency room doctor comes across.
"People knocked down in crosswalks, people knocked down cutting across streets," said Horwitz.
Last year in the U.S., nearly 6,000 pedestrians died compared to fewer than 5,000 in 2014.
"I was surprised by that statistic. I didn't realize it had come to that," said Horwitz.
New data just released by the Governor's Highway Safety Association reveals 82% of those deaths happened outside traditional four-way intersections.
“I never assume people are going to stop because they don't," said Kimberly Yoder.
Yoder, who often walks downtown, uses a new enhanced crosswalk in the middle of Lakeside Avenue.
It is one of more than two dozen currently throughout Cleveland.
"My experience has been is, it's not all that helpful," said Yoder.
Pedestrians push a button to activate a flashing beacon near the crosswalk sign alerting drivers they are about to step out into the street.
"With them adding this, hopefully, it'll help," said Laura Bray.
Bray finds herself walking downtown frequently but just came across the enhanced crosswalk for the first time on Friday.
"I like the idea of it. It's just that if the cars pay attention to it, then it would be perfect," said Bray.
Some walkers we caught up with say that is not happening.
"I'm frankly surprised that no one has been run over," said Yoder.
However, drivers can't take all of the blame.
Dr. Horwitz tells News 5 the common denominator in pedestrian-involved accidents is distracted walking.
"By far and away, the cell phone distractions are probably the number one cause. Obviously, it's a serious problem and we have to try and take care of it before they get here," said Horwitz.
The new and improved crosswalks can be found at:
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Lakeside between East 6th and Ontario
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St. Clair between East 6th and Ontario
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MLK between I-90 and East 105 various locations
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Larchmere MLK to East 128th Various Locations
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Lorain Avenue West 117th to the Corp Limit Various locations
- Triskett – West 117th to Warren various locations
The enhanced crosswalks cost $17,000 dollars to install.
A city spokesperson tells News 5 more of them will soon be coming online as crews complete streetscapes and road projects across the city.
