Health Care
Dependable Health Services
Physical Therapists Health Care
CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Health Care
Sierra Tucson
Eating Disorders Program Coordinator Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps

Opinion by Richard Nassi

In 2006, researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) were studying ways to reduce the number of pedestrians who lose their lives on U.S. streets. They came to Tucson to observe and monitor our city programs. In particular, TTI staff looked at the city's HAWK pedestrian beacon operations because of Tucson's declining pedestrian fatalities.

The city had developed the HAWK pedestrian beacon, short for High-intensity Activated crossWalKs, from 2000 to 2002 in an effort to increase pedestrian safety at school crossings. The TTI researchers studied various techniques used throughout the United States and Canada, and Tucson's HAWK crossings were determined to be one of the best devices nationally to assist pedestrians in safely crossing busy streets.

In a second study, in May 2007, an international consulting firm's expert found that the pedestrian fatalities at individual HAWK locations in Tucson had been totally eliminated at crossings that had suffered pedestrian fatalities before the HAWK was installed. In fact, in a recently updated analysis, there has not been a single pedestrian fatality at any HAWK citywide since their inception.

The community should be thrilled that pedestrian fatalities are declining in Tucson, even though they are on the rise in many other cities. We, as a community, are working well together to address the challenges of safely crossing pedestrians across our busy streets.

There is still more that the community must do. Too many unnecessary crashes are happening. Crossing the street should not be life-threatening. Every corner is a crosswalk. Drivers have a duty to let the pedestrian cross, and the HAWK lights give the driver a strong signal when a pedestrian is present.

Over the last eight years, from 1999 to October 2007, approximately 35 percent of Tucson's pedestrian fatalities have occurred at or in the vicinity of traffic signals.

Fifteen percent occurred in painted crosswalks with zero happening at HAWKS.

Let me repeat: ZERO pedestrian fatalities have occurred at the HAWK crossings. That is a significant fact.

Traffic signals and crosswalks still experience pedestrian fatalities, yet the HAWK does not.

Pedestrian safety is a partnership in which we all must do our part. The news media needs to spread the safety message, the city needs to continue the pedestrian safety programs and drivers need to act reasonably and prudently when traveling. As demonstrated by our experience with the HAWK pedestrian crossing beacon, together we can make a significant difference in pedestrian safety.

National experts have reviewed the HAWK, and the city has won numerous national safety awards. Tucsonans should be proud of their accomplishments: a lower pedestrian fatality rate and the development of the HAWK pedestrian beacon.

Of course they are worth the cost. Just ask the parents of the young school children, who use them every day crossing the busy streets. Our children are worth it.