Response Form Grand Jury Report Title: Crosswalks: Are You as Safe as You Think?*

– Countywide, the markings of crosswalks are inconsistent in appearance and condition. The Board of Supervisors disagrees in part with this Finding. The Board of Supervisors agrees with and adopts the Mendocino County Department of Transportation's response to this Finding.

- Pedestrian assumption that a crosswalk is safe is not true. The Board of Supervisors disagrees in part with this Finding. As the Director of MCDOT said in his response, "two painted lines do not provide protection against an oncoming vehicle." The burden of safety has to be on the vehicle's drivers and pedestrians. Both need to be alert for each other. California Vehicle Code Chapter 5 "Pedestrians' Rights and Duties" requires drivers to "exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon the roadway." Pedestrians have a right to be there, and if pedestrians have to cross the road without a "marked crosswalk," pedestrians must yield to vehicles. If there is a marked crosswalk, then vehicles must yield to pedestrians.

- The lack of consistent or visible signage in many locations contributes to unsafe crosswalks. The Board of Supervisors disagrees in part with this Finding. There is no proof that having different types of signage affects the safety of crosswalks. As long as the signage being used meets state standards, the presumption is that it provides the appropriate amount of notice/warning. The fact that signage is not visible will of course affect the safety of a crosswalk. All signage required for crosswalks should be visible as required by applicable laws and regulations.

- The default timing of traffic lights is insufficient for safe crossing in crosswalks, especially for physically challenged, elderly, and very young pedestrians. The Board of Supervisors disagrees in part with this Finding. RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY REPORT TITLED: CROSSWALKS - ARE YOU AS SAFE AS YOU THINK? The Board of Supervisors agrees with and adopts the response of the MCDOT to this Finding.