Village Posting Signs to Increase Pedestrian Safety

The Village of Orland Park is making pedestrian crosswalks safer in the community. Recent state legislation and new local signage will ensure that vehicles stop for pedestrians.

“Orland Park is a very active community and we’ve heard from joggers and walkers that some motorists don’t give pedestrians the right-of-way at crosswalks that they should,” said Mayor Dan McLaughlin.

The village’s new initiative enforces pedestrian right-of-way laws with non-traffic
control signal crosswalks.

“Ours is a pedestrian friendly community and this initiative is a great way to
ensure safe crossing for everyone who travels on foot,” the mayor said.

According to the Illinois Rules of the Road, drivers must yield the right-of-way to a
pedestrian, particularly when a pedestrian is in a marked or unmarked crosswalk
and no traffic signals are present.

“Once the weather breaks, we will see a huge increase in the number of walkers
throughout the village,” said Trustee Carole Griffin Ruzich, chair of the
village’s Public Safety Committee. “We will have people on foot, runners,
parents with strollers, dog walkers and we need to do all that we can to ensure
their safety,” she said.

Informational signage placed in designated areas will notify drivers that the crosswalk initiative is being enforced. The village’s Public Works Department will begin installing signs the first week of April. The department will also repaint the
crosswalks to warn drivers to take caution when approaching.

“The newly placed signs are part of the Police Department’s strategic plan to
enhance pedestrian safety,” said Police Chief Tim McCarthy. “The primary focus
of our department is to ensure the public’s safety at all times,” he said.

The Police Department chose where the signs will be placed after reviewing the
village’s five areas with the largest volume of pedestrians, high traffic and
high speed limits. Police will monitor these areas once the signs are
installed. Non-compliant drivers will receive written warnings shortly after
the signs are posted.

The five areas of the village with the highest pedestrian traffic include 151st
and Catalina Drive; 151st and Lakeview Drive; Brookhill Drive and
Southwest Highway; the 179th Street Metra Train Station crossing and
16800 South 88th Avenue with student traffic going to Fernway
School.

“The village’s crosswalk initiative is crucial for increasing public safety in the
village,” McLaughlin said, adding, “This progam will help everyone pay
attention --- both motorists and those on foot.”