'Yield to Heels' Campaign to Focus on Pedestrian Safety

Chapel Hill, N.C. — A plan to promote pedestrian safety kicked off in Chapel Hill on Wednesday.

The "Yield to Heels" campaign stationed volunteers at four crosswalks to distribute flyers and information. The goal is to remind walkers of their rules of the road.

Volunteers were scheduled for the Pit between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and for the following crosswalks between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.:

South Road at the Bell Tower
South Road by Student Rec
South Columbia at Big Frat Court
Manning Drive near the School of Dentistry and the Thurston Bowles Building

Pedestrians are being urged to stay on sidewalks, use crosswalks and pay better attention to street lights. Plus, they should be visible to the drivers on the road. Organizers will also encourage drivers to slow down in the area.

"As a part of the campaign, Yield to Heels also aims to clear up myths about traffic safety for both pedestrians and drivers," said David Harkey, director of the UNC Highway Safety Research Center.

In 2006, two pedestrians and a cyclist were killed in vehicle-related accidents in Chapel Hill.

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Latest Comments

mmm, probably the most heartless comment I have ever read in light of recent events. It is sad that people find humor is other's tragedies. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Tarheeljunior
March 28, 2007 4:11 p.m.

mmm - that is not funny to me.

Heelzrule
March 28, 2007 3:29 p.m.

"Yield to Heels", but do you Yield to Rams?

usnn
March 28, 2007 2:06 p.m.

My best friend's brother got hit by a car on NC State's campus, maybe they need a similar program. With all of the construction on some of the major roads at UNC, the number of crosswalks have been decreased temporarily. The crosses that are open are at time inconvenient. Jaywalking is a problem and the constant construction areas that obstruct drivers' views makes the situation even worse. Yield to Heels is an annual campaign to remind students not only to cross safely, but there are penalties if a student is caught crossing in middle of the road. Public Safety helps out with this campaign not because they think we are idiots, but because they are trying to foster a safe environment amongst a campus with increasingly heavy traffic.

Tarheeljunior
March 28, 2007 11:38 a.m.

This program happens every year at Carolina, and I think the importance of it could never go away. So many drivers go through that campus driving way too fast for pedestrians, and so many pedestrians don't cross the streets legally where they're supposed to, making things dangerous for both parties. With regards to your comment, NCSU Mech Eng, I think that NC State could do with a program to remind their drivers and students of the same thing we try to remind people of here. I know for a fact that NC State is no different--in fact, my brother who goes to State tells me all the time about kids almost getting run over by cars and Wolfline buses because they jaywalk or because the drivers speed through the campus trying to make the lights. In fact, he was actually hit by a car speeding through an intersection during his first year there, so I completely support programs like Yield 2 Heels to try and remind everyone to be alert and safe. It tries to keep people safe and uninjured.

tarheelpoet
March 28, 2007 11:26 a.m.