As summer beckons with its open skies and warmer breezes, residents of Westfield, Indiana, are heeding the call outdoors, particularly onto the welcoming trails that crisscross their community. The Westfield Police Department, in an effort to preclude the beauty of these days from being marred by accidents at trail crossings, has issued safety guidelines for both pedestrians and motorists alike.
The Westfield Police Department's post reminded trail users to always obey signage and to halt before crossing roadways. The onus of safety is shared, as vehicle traffic has no obligation to stop for those on the trails unless a HAWK signal is activated – a system which, when engaged, alerts drivers to the presence of crossing pedestrians or cyclists.
Addressing drivers, the police underscore the potential dangers of unpredictably stopping to allow trail users to cross. Such actions, though well-intentioned, can lead to collisions as following drivers might not anticipate the stop, and this, coupled with the failure of oncoming traffic to halt, sharply increases the peril for pedestrians and cyclists in the crossing.
Instead, the department advocates for a more prudent approach: drivers should slow down, remain vigilant, and exercise caution upon nearing trail crossings.
