As pedestrian accidents continue to plague the streets of Utah, West Valley City (WVC) police officers are cracking down to make the roads safer. According to KSL News, authorities in WVC conducted a sting they called “Operation Crosswalk Enforcement” in hopes of teaching drivers and pedestrians how to be safer. Drivers are often in a hurry to get to their destination or are distracted by the radio or cell phones and can easily overlook a pedestrian. Likewise, pedestrians often cross the streets in high-risk areas without crosswalks. This sting was meant to help alleviate these problems. An officer in regular clothes walked on a crosswalk and another officer looked to see if oncoming vehicles stopped. If a driver did not stop, officers would pull the vehicle over. On Thursday alone, officers pulled over 50 drivers who failed to yield to pedestrians. Most of the drivers were simply warned, but a few received tickets. Similar stings will begin around the state.

This recent crackdown comes in light of alarming research and statistics concerning bicycle and pedestrian accidents. According to the health department, 95% of pedestrians involved in traffic accidents suffer injuries. In Utah alone, an average of 860 pedestrians are injured every year and an additional 30 are killed. Please remember to always use caution when driving and keep a close eye out for pedestrians, especially in residential and urban areas.