Mary Stevens/Daily Mining Gazette With the summer season soon to be upon us, pedestrian traffic in the city of Houghton will increase. Motorists are reminded that state law mandates they stop for people walking in crosswalks, but they should not stop for pedestrians on the sidewalk waiting to cross.

HOUGHTON — As the Summer quickly approaches, many are concerned about the increased foot traffic the City of Houghton is soon to experience. Thanks to educational events such as the Summer Youth Program, Houghton sees a sharp rise in pedestrian traffic, beginning between May and June.

With so many more people on the streets enjoying the city, it’s important to know the rules and regulations when sharing the road with others.

“Michigan is not like other states,” said Houghton Chief of Police John Donnelly. “If you see pedestrians … you’re supposed to yield the right of way and stop.”

According to Donnelly, Michigan law states that if pedestrians are already in the crosswalk, drivers must yield and allow them to cross. However, if they’re waiting to cross, and not yet in the crosswalk, vehicles are not supposed to stop.

Donnelly says this is because there have been issues in the past with people stopping to let pedestrians cross, which led to confusion for other drivers.

“If someone stops to let a pedestrian cross, the car behind them could think, ‘Why is this guy stopping?’ He could try to pass the stopped car, not seeing the pedestrian, which could cause an accident.” Donnelly said.

Chief Donnelly also clarified the matter of the crosswalks located on Michigan Tech’s campus, in front of Wadsworth Hall. This was specifically designed by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) with students’ safety in mind. Drivers are not supposed to yield if students are waiting on the island in between crosswalks, but must stop if they are already crossing. While drivers may try to be kind and allow those waiting to cross, this leads to traffic congestion and confusion for both students and drivers.

Michigan Tech’s Public Safety and Police Services also has information online about how to safely share the road with pedestrians.

“In 2022, a pedestrian was killed every 70 seconds in a traffic crash,” a Facebook post from Michigan Tech Police reads. “We can help reduce these numbers by following some basic safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

These include always watching for pedestrians and using extra caution when driving in bad conditions. Also, yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop with ample room before a crosswalk to allow other vehicles to see pedestrians.

Those walking are instructed to walk on sidewalks whenever available, and cross at crosswalks or intersections.

“Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.” Michigan Tech Police wrote. “If a crosswalk or a gap in traffic is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.”

More information on road safety can be found online at www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety.