Proposal for Walkers to Use Flags Discussed

Such an image might be a reality if a proposal by Town Planner Christine Nelson gets off the ground.

At the August 3 Board of Selectmen meeting, Nelson said she saw in Wakefield, R.I. they have signs on either side of the road next to a pole holder clearly explaining the appropriate use of the flag.

The sign reads, “Crosswalk Flags: Remove flag from holder, cross road when traffic is clear, display flag while crossing, place flag in holder across street.”

“It caught my eye as something festive,” Nelson said, adding the flag would get the attention of drivers.

Old Saybrook Police Department Adam Stewart said he was concerned the proposed flags could be stolen.

Nelson said she did not ask officials in Wakefield whether they have a theft problem but mentioned someone could be designated to bring in the flags at night when there is less traffic.

Stewart said the idea would be forwarded to the Police Commission and feels the idea is “a step in the right direction.”

Stewart said on each shift at Old Saybrook Police Department, an officer is assigned to sit in a cruiser near an intersection on Main Street and give out warnings or tickets to those violating traffic laws including speeding, failing to grant right of way, and failure to obey traffic signals.

According to the Connecticut Office of Legislative Research, failing to grant right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk face fines set by the Superior Court judges between $35 and $90.

Social Services Coordinator Joanne Messner questioned whether the town could install a stop sign at every crosswalk to make it safer for pedestrians but Stewart believed this would only back up traffic especially at the head of Main Street.

Stewart said jaywalking, which is crossing a road at an intersection when not in a crosswalk, is against the law in Old Saybrook.

The department has asked the state to evaluate the effectiveness of creating more crosswalks on Main Street.

“After a while people don’t see the crosswalks,” Stewart said, adding drivers eventually quit paying attention which is why the crosswalks were painted different colors.

“We are looking at lighting, wireless systems and activated lighting near the center direction,” Stewart said.

Main Street is part of State Route 154 and Stewart said all proposed changes to a state road require approval from the state.

The Planning Commission has come out with suggestions for improving safety on Main Street including reducing speed to 20 miles per hour, mph, increasing enforcement of traffic laws, incorporate crosswalk signs and controls, add lighting, and adding crosswalks on Main Street and adjacent streets.

Stewart reminded those attending the Selectmen meeting that the speed limit on Main Street used to be 30 mph but last year, after getting approval from the state, was reduced to 25 mph.

However, Stewart said the speed of the eighty percentile, which the speed of eighty percent of the traffic, should be taken into consideration when discussing a possible reduction in the speed limit.

Other suggestions the commission has made include limiting parking adjacent to crosswalks to compact cars only, create local speed limit signs in the shape and coloring of the Old Saybrook crest with wording like “Village District 20 mph” or “Slow Down In Town”, installing an additional postal box on the west side of Main Street, and upgrading sidewalks with a consistent width and location throughout town center.