Trusting life to painted stripes? Published Dec. 10, 2009 By 1st Lt. Samuel Lee Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- In the battle between vehicle and human, the momentum of 3,000 pounds of steel will always reign supreme in a head-to-head collision. "There are lots of near misses every day," says Mark Sprayberry, the traffic safety manager for the 72nd Air Base Wing Safety Office. "Don't just assume that just because there's a crosswalk that you can just immediately walk across the street." Mr. Sprayberry and Emily Wolfgeher, chief of safety operations, both expressed their concern for people who inadvertently use crosswalks without waiting for vehicles to stop or where drivers fail to yield the right-of-way to people. They are asking people to exhibit better crosswalk safety across Tinker. "Tinker follows Oklahoma Statute 47 11-502, AFI 31-204 and TAFB Sup 1 6.1.5 as guidance in the matter," says Master Sgt. Christopher White from the 72nd Security Forces Squadron. These statutes and instructions essentially state that vehicles must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at marked intersections. Failure to do so is against the law. However, pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to vehicles where a crosswalk doesn't exist. Pedestrians must also not suddenly get in the path of a moving vehicle so that it is impossible for the driver to yield. In an effort to increase crosswalk awareness, security forces has "stepped up patrols aggressively for a two-fold effect: for drivers to obey signals and for pedestrians to push the crosswalk button," said Sergeant White. Some pedestrians have complained that the solar-powered crosswalk signals don't work even when the button is depressed. "People need to make an active effort to push the big center button," said Mr. Sprayberry. "The button is slightly recessed and people tend to just brush the cover and don't actually turn the signal on." Unlike some other cities that have crosswalk signals that are activated with a light tap, the crosswalk systems in place on Tinker require a firm button press to avoid accidental activation by things like Oklahoma's strong winds. One major limitation of the crosswalk system is that pedestrians can't tell if the system is actually activated unless they physically walk in front of the signal to see if it is blinking. Regardless, drivers need to yield when they see pedestrians about to cross any crosswalk, whether or not the lights are blinking. Mr. Sprayberry and Ms. Wolfgeher offer the following important tips: · Wear bright clothes during darker hours, reflective belts for members in uniform · Drivers need to be aware of the time of day when there is increased levels of foot traffic (before and after work and during the lunch hour) · Don't walk into crosswalk distracted ( talking on the cell phone) concentrate on walking · Drivers going both directions should remain stopped until pedestrians have reached the other side of the intersection, just in case the person changes their mind in the middle of the crosswalk · If you're in the left lane, and the car on the right lane is stopped at a crosswalk, be aware of what's going on There are currently only five pedestrian crosswalk signals located around the base. More active crosswalks may be installed as funds become available, but currently non are planned. There are painted crosswalks located at every major intersection. "We have plenty of crosswalks" said Ms. Wolfgeher. "Use the ones that are there." Where no crosswalk exists, people need to take extra precaution before crossing. Most importantly, "Pedestrians need to observe the right of weight," said Ms. Wolfgeher. "If it's bigger than you, don't get in front of it."