The UTRGV Police Department hopes to attain voluntary compliance from students, faculty and staff in using crosswalks when crossing streets.
Individuals who commit crossing violations will risk being cited with a fine of around $200. Fines for violations can be as high as $500.
Police Chief Raul Munguia said the department hopes to change the culture of how students cross streets.
“[Fining] is going to be the last step and final step, as far as issuing a citation, where they actually have to go to the municipal court and deal with it there,” Munguia said. “… Our goal is to maintain a safe campus.”
He said the campus has continued to expand, and students are walking from further distances. The department would still like for students to be careful while crossing the street. Crossing can be especially dangerous in the morning, when drivers are sometimes blinded by the sun.
“Probably what generated this interest, [insofar as] pedestrians crossing the roadway, is the recent accidents in Edinburg,” Munguia said.
A female student was injured Sept. 20 at the University Recreation crosswalk in an auto/cyclist accident, according to a University Police report. The student crossed the crosswalk on her bike when she was struck by a vehicle driven by a female staff member. The student suffered a bruised ankle.
He also offered students tips to prevent accidents. Pedestrians should always use crosswalks and bicyclists should dismount their bikes when crossing. Additionally, they should not be looking at their phone or listening to music while crossing. Pedestrians should also make eye contact with drivers to ensure it is safe to cross.
The police department hopes to raise awareness through an educational campaign. The educational campaign is still being planned, but will consist of information about what students can and cannot do.
Sebastian Castañeda, a first-year mechanical engineering graduate student, said he uses crosswalks about once a week. Castañeda said he does not feel safe using crosswalks and worries about hitting a pedestrian while driving.
“Some cars don’t even pay attention,” he said. “I was driving once, and I didn’t pay attention. And some kids crossed, even though I saw there was a stop, but they crossed anyways, and I almost hit them.”
Castañeda said more crosswalks should be added, but that they should be made so drivers can see pedestrians more easily.
Karina Ramirez, a math senior, said she rarely uses crosswalks.
“I still think it’s unsafe because there are some [drivers] who don’t pay attention,” Ramirez said.
For more information, call the police directory at 882-7777 or visit https://www.utrgv.edu/police/index.htm.
