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PUNXSUTAWNEY -- Punxsutawney Borough Police is increasing efforts to help keep pedestrians safe this summer.
Flurorescent yellow "Yield to Pedestrians" crosswalk signs placed on Mahoning St. and Route 119 are aimed at helping to keep everyone safer -- pedestrians and motorists alike.
"Summer is a peak time for pedestrian accidents," Officer Ryan Miller said Friday. ‚"We're doing our best to curb that, especially with the carnival and the Groundhog Festival going on."
Motorists are required by law to yield to pedestrians, and anyone who does not yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk will receive a citation for failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian.
The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code states when traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the road within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
Any driver who is convicted of an offense could face a fine of $50 plus court costs and be assessed points.
The Vehicle Code also states that no pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or any other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute a hazard.
Because of the warmer weather and events going on in town this summer that increase the amount of foot traffic, officers will be aggressively patrolling areas designated for pedestrians.
"The main message we want to get across is that people need to be more aware of pedestrians in the borough in general," Miller said. "There will be more people crossing the street, and we want motorists to be mindful of that."
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