- Phoenix ranks fourth-worst in the U.S. for pedestrian fatalities.
- First-offense jaywalking now carries a citation, no warnings.
- $5.6M planned for ten new pedestrian-activated crosswalks.
Pedestrian safety isn’t always the highest priority in America, but that might be changing. Phoenix, the fourth-worst city in the nation regarding pedestrian fatalities, is about to attack the problem from multiple angles.
The nation’s fifth-largest city in terms of population is set to spend millions on new infrastructure aimed at protecting people on foot. At the same time, it’s tightening enforcement of jaywalking, treating it with a seriousness it hadn’t before.
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Pedestrians dart across streets at nearly every busy intersection, often far from marked crosswalks. “I’ve lived on this corner for seven years, and people cross all the time,” said one resident to AZ Family. “I’ve done it myself.” City officials hope the new rules will curb that behavior.
From Warning to Misdemeanor
Under the revised city code, jaywalking now carries steeper penalties than before. Previously, police were required to issue a warning before taking any formal action. Now, a first offense results in a civil citation, much like a speeding ticket. A second offense escalates to a Class 1 misdemeanor.
“Do you feel like doing that will stop people from jaywalking? Yeah, I think it’ll help. I think it’ll help a lot,” another resident said. Of course, only time will tell, but Phoenix isn’t stopping at issuing new citations.
$5.6 Million for Safer Streets
The move comes alongside a $5.6 million investment in pedestrian infrastructure. Ten new pedestrian-activated crosswalks are planned for high-traffic areas, aiming to make pedestrians more visible and give drivers more reaction time.
Research shows such crosswalks can reduce pedestrian crashes by nearly 70 percent, as seen in Tucson. Notably, Tucson is designed quite differently from Phoenix.
Rob Bhatt, a traffic safety researcher at ValuePenguin, noted that Arizona pedestrians face nearly double the national risk of being killed in a collision.
“Phoenix is developed for cars to go very quickly, which can create conflicts with pedestrians. Every safety tool, including fines, gets people’s attention,” said Bhatt. At this point, it’ll be months if not years before we see the total impact of these measures.
Between now and then, pedestrians in Phoenix should be thoughtful about where and when they cross the road. Sure, avoiding jaywalking could help them avoid a ticket. But clearly, it could also help them avoid a serious and potentially life-changing accident, too.
