Boston Injury Attorney Blog

As summer fades and thousands of Massachusetts adolescents return to school, traffic safety rules and avoidance of pedestrian accidents has once again taken center stage. One Massachusetts town, North Attleboro, has taken a proactive approach in reducing pedestrian accidents as a new school year begins.

Recently, North Attleboro Police Chief John J. Reilly told The Sun Chronicle that his department is instituting a new "Traffic Enforcement Program," which will include crosswalk sting operations. The Chief went on to note that North Attleboro police will be increasingly vigilant in enforcing traffic safety rules as the school year will bring an increase in vehicular and pedestrian traffic, often involving small children. The police will also be issuing tickets for parking violations, especially in handicap and fire lanes, as well as vehicles parked on sidewalks, according to Chief Reilly.

Massachusetts drivers should note that pursuant to state law, motorists must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. According to Chief Reilly, under the new North Attleboro Traffic Enforcement Program, failure to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk will bring a $200 fine on the offending driver.

Failure to stop in a crosswalk is not the only vehicular offense with increased penalties and surveillance under the plan. The town has now reduced the speed limit from Fisher and North Washington streets to Chestnut and South Washington streets in North Attleboro to 20 mph. North Attleboro police will conduct increased radar enforcement in the area.

Lastly, the North Attleboro police reminded bicyclists and skateboarders that these vehicles are prohibited on sidewalks in the downtown area, due to higher amounts of pedestrian traffic.

In all, it's an encouraging sign to see North Attleboro taking proactive steps to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents in town. As the new school year approaches, it is advisable that parents instruct their children to always look both ways before crossing streets and to only cross when absolutely safe to do so. Sadly, many pedestrian accidents involving younger children occur because smaller children are more difficult for motorists to see and often step out into the road unpredictably. On the same token, it is imperative that drivers employ an increasingly heightened awareness and safe driving maneuvers in areas frequented by young children, particularly school zones. Otherwise, a driver may be held negligent in the case of a pedestrian accident.

Click here to read more about North Attleboro's traffic safety program.