Yield to Heels Campaign Promotes Safety at Night
By Hanna A. Gordola

A familiar pedestrian safety program now carries new significance.

“Good job guys. You crossed correctly,” said volunteers as they gave away pedestrian information to students walking on crosswalks. After three pedestrians were killed in the past few months, the “Yield to Heels” campaign got much more attention Wednesday morning than ever before. In previous years the campaign strived to remind pedestrians how to cross campus roads properly.

This year, the campaign is taking their cause a step further.

Volunteers are giving away glow-in-the-dark slap bracelets and hazard lights buttons in an effort to keep pedestrians safe at night. They also awarded law-abiding pedestrians with coupons from Ben & Jerry’s and Johnny T-shirt.

Highway Safety Research Center spokeswoman Katy Jones said the recent pedestrian fatalities caused them to shift their awareness technique.

“Certainly the three that occurred several months ago obviously upped the awareness and upped the magnitude of it, which is why we’ve decided to work on the nighttime message today,” Jones said.

The University paid for all the giveaways the volunteers were handing out.