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Newberry City Commissioner Installs Crosswalk Flag System

Newberry resident Angela Kogler, 52, uses a flag to attract a driver's attention as she and her mother, Helen Ellefson, 73, cross State Road 26. The flags were recently installed to improve pedestrian safety at the busy intersection. (Li Stalder/WUFT News)
Newberry resident Angela Kogler, 52, uses a flag to attract a driver's attention as she and her mother, Helen Ellefson, 73, cross State Road 26. The flags were recently installed to improve pedestrian safety at the busy intersection. (Li Stalder/WUFT News)

Newberry City Commissioner Tim Marden first noticed the use of a flag system at a crosswalk while he was on a trip to Crescent Beach with his family a few weekends ago.

After seeing that the system helped people cross a busy street, he installed one last week at the intersection of State Road 26 and 254th Street in Newberry.

Flag holders attached to poles on both sides of the road hold five orange flags. Pedestrians can carry a flag across the street to attract drivers' attention.

Marden said there could be a slight hiccup if all flags stay on one side. But if that happens, all someone would need to do is take an extra flag to leave on the other side.

State Road 26 runs through the heart of town, and for the past six months, people have been complaining more frequently about the busy intersection, Marden said.

Mayor Bill Conrad said the city has tried for years to get extra warnings and signs at the busy crossroad.

“I’ve crossed that street many times,” he said. “It’s a dangerous intersection.”

Conrad said the Florida Department of Transportation has installed yellow flashing lights and a 30 mph sign, but the response has been less than what the city expected.

After getting inspiration from the Crescent Beach flags, Marden said he spent about $100 of his own money to get the DOT-approved flags and holders.

“Sometimes you have to just take the initiative to solve a problem, or try to solve the problem yourself, rather than wait on some other entity to do it,” Marden said.

Conrad said he is appreciative of Marden’s efforts and hopes they will encourage FDOT to do more.

In the meantime, Marden said he expects it will take awhile for people to start using them.

Marden posted information about the new flags on the Citizens of Newberry Forum Facebook group. The post has since gained over 250 likes and 79 shares.

Newberry’s Backyard BBQ, located at a corner of the intersection, is also helping spread the word. Manager Kylah Dawson said the staff has been telling local residents about the flags and wants to put up signs to explain the system.

"I think, for right now, since Newberry is such a small town, it will (improve safety)," Dawson said.

In the past, the restaurant has tried its own safety measures by asking police officers to come out and personally escort people across the street, Dawson said.

Marden said the restaurant has also offered to bring in the flags at night so they don’t get stolen.

Angela Kogler, a Newberry resident, first heard about the flags through Facebook.

While she said she thinks it’s a good idea and believes the flags will help, it won’t completely solve the problem since people still don’t pay enough attention.

Marden said the flags are only an aide, and there’s no guarantee that drivers will stop.

“(They don't) absolve the personal responsibility or suspend the law of physics, but if you wanted to use (them), then they’re there,” he said.

However, he said he sees the flags as a permanent solution and doesn’t think there would be potential for a possible future traffic light.

With a background in insurance claims, Marden said a stoplight would be overkill and may cause more problems, such as drivers stopping short and causing rear-end collisions.

“With driver distraction issues so prevalent nowadays, if you’re crossing the street, you have to make doubly sure that people are actually stopping because you just never know,” Marden said.

 

Li Stalder is a reporter for WUFT News. She can be reached at lstalder@ufl.edu or 352-392-6397 or 352-392-NEWS. Follow her at @listalder.