NCJ Number
217442
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 74 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2007 Pages: 36-39
Date Published
January 2007
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the design and implementation of a pedestrian safety initiative in Mesquite, TX.
Abstract
After the death of Kyle Foster when he was hit by a motor vehicle while crossing the street in front of his house in Mesquite, people concerned about pedestrian safety met to examine the problem and devise an action plan. The first consideration was the residential speed limit. The goal was to lower Mesquite's residential speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 25. Support for the new speed limit was taken up by residents who put up the following sign in yards throughout the city: "Keep Kids Alive--Drive 25." The PTA also promoted the lower speed limit at its meetings. Legislation was introduced by Mesquite's State representatives to allow cities to lower residential speed limits to 25 miles per hour if the current speed limit was determined by the city's government to be unreasonable or unsafe. On May 27, 2005, the legislation became law. On September 19, 2005, the Mesquite City Council approved $83,600 to implement the new speed limit and install 800 new speed-limit signs throughout the city. The Mesquite Police Department began an education campaign to inform citizens about the lower speed and emphasize the importance of pedestrian safety. Community leaders and public officials increased awareness of the speed-limit change at the meeting of community organizations. In addition, the Mesquite Police Department, with assistance from school officials and the Mesquite Independent School District developed the pedestrian educational program. The educational medium was a video entitled, "The Other Side." It presents guidelines for various scenarios that a child pedestrian might encounter. The school district played the video on its classroom television system every 30 minutes for 1 week and required teachers to show it at least once during that week.