Community Corner

Sign-Blowing Scofflaws to Pay the Price in Collingswood

'Stop at the sign or pay a fine' is coming for you, drivers who ignore pedestrian safety laws.

The Borough of Collingswood released the following announcement:

In an effort to increase safety for pedestrians in Collingswood, well known as a walkable community, officials are kicking off a Pedestrian Safety Initiative in spring 2013.

The program, titled “Stop at the sign or pay the fine,” aims to remind drivers that it is imperative to follow pedestrian safety regulations and will crack down on those that put pedestrians and other drivers at risk.

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The program will focus on stricter enforcement of traffic laws including curbing speeding and illegal U-turns, enforcing full stops at signs and enforcing crosswalk laws and other increased ticketing of violations that put pedestrians in danger. The borough will also improve signage and hire part time help this summer to repaint crosswalks throughout town.

“The idea is to really stress that driving that puts pedestrians at risk will be ticketed,” Mayor Jim Maley said. “We’re known as a walkable town and a destination, so we want to keep residents and visitors as safe as possible. We get a lot of feedback on this issue. It’s a major concern for us especially in the spring when people flock to town for warm weather events, shopping and dining.”

Find out what's happening in Collingswoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The borough already staffs crossing guards and has bump outs and other traffic calming devices in the downtown along Haddon Avenue in an effort to maintain a safe walking atmosphere. The “Stop at the sign or pay the fine” program will increase the current budget for traffic calming measures.

“This initiative keeps people safer and will give Collingswood a reputation as a place where careless driving isn’t tolerated,” said police Chief Richard Sarlo. “It’s remarkable how many people ignore traffic laws that protect pedestrians.”


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