The City of Valparaiso is highlighting National Pedestrian Safety Month by reminding drivers and pedestrians to follow the rules of the road, slow down and avoid distractions. “As a city committed to being pedestrian friendly, we make safety our top priority,” said Mayor Jon Costas. “Our Valparaiso Police Department does an excellent job of monitoring and enforcing safety rules, but we all agree that education is the first step in making us all safer on the roads.”
In the City of Valparaiso, there were nine collisions involving pedestrians in 2023 and six collisions involving pedestrians already in 2024. Since 2013 there have been 126 collisions involving pedestrians, with 69% of these attributed to motorists at fault. Further, since 2013 five collisions were attributed to distracted drivers. “It’s important for us all to be alert and to obey the rules of the road – motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike,” said Police Chief Andrew McIntyre. “Pedestrian safety is a challenge nationwide and in Valparaiso we all must do our part to keep one another safe.”
The City of Valparaiso works to enhance pedestrian safety in three key ways, engineering, education and enforcement. Engineering means traffic calming features, like the speed humps installed on Evans Avenue between the Boys & Girls Club and Fairgrounds Park, the bump outs on Morgan Boulevard that narrow the roadway in school crossing areas, plus measures such as adding pathways, bike lanes and accessible parking. Enforcement is a function of the Valparaiso Police Department, which has enhanced patrolling and policing efforts to enhance roadway safety. Education will be the focus of this October Safety Campaign.
The City of Valpo is highlighting traffic messages for October as National Pedestrian Safety Month, including reminders of the rules of the road, highlighting school zone and school bus roadway safety, and warnings about the dangers of distracted travel. Messaging will be distributed through media releases, social media by both Valparaiso Now and the Valparaiso Police Department, signage and online at Valpo.us. Ellen Kapitan, City Council At-Large, initiated the campaign through the City’s Traffic and Safety Committee, alongside City of Valparaiso leadership and staff.
Attend a Meeting
The City of Valparaiso has made traffic and safety a priority by organizing a Traffic and Safety Committee which hosts a monthly meeting, open to the public. The committee meets on the third Monday of each month at City Hall, 166 Lincolnway. To learn more, including a review of agendas and minutes, visit tinyurl.com/ValpoRoadSafety.