Even though they’ve been in place for eight years now, apparently, some people are still confused about what to do when they encounter the pedestrian crossing signals located where the Polly Ann Trail intersects W. Burdick St. and W. Drahner Rd. in Oxford.

In light of this, officials are reminding people to obey the laws that apply to these crosswalks and urging both motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution and use common sense.

In 2011, each intersection had two beacons installed. They use yellow LED lights that flash for 15 seconds to warn motorists they are approaching a pedestrian crossing. Pedestrians manually activate these solar-powered signals by pushing a button. Until activated, they remain unlit.

Activating these beacons does not give trail users, or other pedestrians, the right to automatically begin crossing the road, regardless of the traffic situation.

“It is incumbent upon the pedestrian to stop and make sure that traffic has cleared (or) has stopped before they proceed,” said Craig Bryson, spokesman for the Road Commission for Oakland County.

Oxford Village Police Chief Mike Solwold agreed. He said trail users and other pedestrians “need to stop and look both ways” before entering the roadway.

“Don’t activate the (flashers) and then just ‘Frogger’ across the street,” he said. “You can’t just hit the button and jump out into traffic.”

Bryson said pedestrians cannot afford to simply “assume” every motorist is “paying attention.”

“We have an increasing amount of distracted drivers these days,” he said.

There are stop signs on the north and south sides of the trail where it intersects these busy roads. These signs are meant for trail users and whether they’re on foot or riding bicycles, they are obligated to obey them.

Unfortunately, officials said they’ve witnessed people, particularly bicyclists, ignore them.

“They don’t stop. They go right through,” said Elgin Nichols, an Oxford Township trustee who serves on the trail’s management council.

“If I could make people stop at stop signs, I’d make people stop at stop signs whether they’re pedestrians or cars,” said Trail Manager Linda Moran. “(But,) I don’t have the ability to (stop) people (from) breaking the law.”

Solwold noted that people “really should be getting off their bikes and walking (them) across” these busy roads because it’s the safe thing to do.

“That’s a good lesson for our kids,” he said.

By law, motorists are required to stop if there is a pedestrian moving inside a marked crosswalk, regardless of whether the beacons are flashing.

However, motorists are not legally required to stop just because the flashing beacons have been activated or a pedestrian is waiting to cross.

Solwold said a flashing yellow light “doesn’t mean (drivers) have to stop completely unless there’s literally a person in the middle of the road.”

“Then yeah, you have to stop,” he said.

Although drivers are not legally obligated to stop when the flashers are activated and a pedestrian is present on the side of the road, they are encouraged to do so if they can in a manner that’s safe, not abrupt.

Solwold doesn’t want drivers to feel as though they need to stop on a dime at these crossings the second the flashing lights go on because that’s a recipe for accidents.

According to the chief, between 1997 and 2010, before the signals were installed, there were 10 auto accidents in the area where the trail crosses W. Burdick St. Between 2011 and 2018, after the signals were installed, there have been 14 accidents. Solwold pointed out that’s more crashes in less time.

Solwold wished to remind motorists that once all pedestrians have crossed the road, they can proceed with caution even if the beacons are still flashing.

“I’ve seen people sit there until that thing stops blinking,” he said.

“If there isn’t a pedestrian (in the crosswalk), they can continue through,” Bryson said.