26 citations given out for crosswalk violations in Warwick

By: Alana Cerrone

acerrone@abc6.com

WARWICK, R. I. – Drivers in Warwick are wishing they had hit the brakes on West Shore Road Friday afternoon.

Blank cars were slapped with an 86 dollar citation for blowing through a crosswalk while a pedestrian was trying to cross. That pedestrian was actually an undercover cop.

"From pedestrians themselves in the crosswalk from people in the neighborhood using the post office they always complain there’s a lot of heavy traffic and they’re not yielding to people in the crosswalk it’s an unsafe situation," said Officer Robert Hart of the Warwick Police Department.

An investigation took place at the intersection at Maplewood in Conimicut where uniformed officers and cruisers were planted on either side of the intersection, and a plain clothes officer walked back and forth in the crosswalk.  

If the cars didn’t stop the officers stopped them.

Deb McCaughey, who lives in the neighborhood, says crossing this street is a nightmare, "I feel like I’m gonna get hit by a car trying to get out or trying to get in my car."

She said she’d like to see a stoplight put in.

"Right here just have the push button to say you know what you need to stop someone needs to walk in this crossing," said McCaughey.

Authorities say last year there were 36 accidents involving pedestrians in Warwick but not all were in crosswalks.

This past March an elderly man died when he was hit on Main Avenue and a month before that a 27-year-old man seriously injured when he was hit while crossing Centerville Road.

Police say both men weren’t using a crosswalk, and that’s why they hope Friday’s operation will show just why crosswalks are so important, if used correctly.

"Number one pay attention put your cellphone down slow your speed when you see a pedestrian enter the crosswalk they have the right of way. As for pedestrians use a crosswalk," said Officer Hart.

The sting is actually part of a grant from Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT).

It’s a 14-week program called "Walk Wise Warwick," which is focusing on drivers who don’t yield for walkers as well as walkers who don’t use the crosswalks and traffic signals.

© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016