With the fall semester underway and more students on campus this year, IUP University Police and Emergency Management are reminding everyone to slow down, stay alert, and look out for one another when traveling on and around campus.
Whether you are driving, walking, or biking, distractions can have serious consequences, especially in busy areas where vehicles and pedestrians share the road.
Drivers: Put the Phone Down
Pennsylvania’s Paul Miller’s Law prohibits drivers from using a hand-held mobile device while driving, including while temporarily stopped at a red light, in traffic, or at a stop sign. The law is now fully enforceable, and drivers convicted of violating it face a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees.
Hands-free technology may still be used for calls, GPS, and music, and phones may be used to contact emergency responders.
Drivers should use extra caution when approaching intersections, crosswalks, and other high-pedestrian-traffic areas around campus, especially between class changes. Slow down, scan the entire intersection before proceeding or turning, and watch for pedestrians who may be crossing from either direction.
The message is simple: when you’re behind the wheel, your attention belongs on the road.
Pedestrians: Look Up Before You Step Out
Distracted driving isn’t the only concern. Walking while looking down at a phone, wearing headphones that block out your surroundings, or stepping into a crosswalk without checking for traffic can also put you at risk.
As you move around campus:
- Put your phone down when crossing streets and parking lots.
- Look left, right, and left again before crossing, even at a crosswalk.
- Make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the roadway.
- Stay alert in parking lots, where vehicles may be backing out or turning.
A crosswalk does not replace the need to pay attention. Drivers and pedestrians both have a role in preventing accidents.
With more people traveling across campus this year, a few seconds of extra attention can make a big difference.