Silent policemen: Nuisance or necessity?

Small signs placed in the middle of a crosswalk are designed to increase driver awareness of crossing pedestrians. Lewes Deputy Mayor Fred Beaufait isn't convinced the signs, often referred to as silent policemen, are effective enough to keep them on some Lewes streets. He said he also believes they are a nuisance for drivers trying to navigate the city's more narrow roads.

“All you have to do is look at them to see how many times they've been hit,” he said. “Every time one of these gets hit, somebody's car is damaged. It troubles me that we're causing our citizens and visitors expenses to have their cars repaired.”

Silent policemen were added to Lewes' streets 13 years ago following the recommendation of the city's bike and pedestrian committee. Committee Chairman Mike Tyler said Lewes was the first town in the state to add silent policemen, and several municipalities have followed suit, including Rehoboth Beach.

Tyler was surprised the issue was raised at the March 14 city council meeting.

“We're actually looking at adding more silent policemen,” Tyler told council. “I think they're valuable, I think they work and I think we should have them.”

Lewes added pedestrian flags at select intersections last spring as a way to further capture the attention of drivers. Working in harmony with the silent policemen, Chief Jeffrey Horvath said, the flags create a safe situation for pedestrians.

“I don't think taking [silent policemen] down completely without adding something else is going to make those crosswalks safer,” he said. “We have one of the safest towns in the state. I would hate to see us do anything that might make us take a little bit of a step back.”

While safe, Lewes is not immune to pedestrian incidents. In September 2014, a 71-year-old woman was hospitalized after being hit by a car while crossing Savannah Road at Dewey Avenue near Lloyd's Market. Pedestrian flags were added to the crosswalks on either side of Dewey Avenue just a few months later.

Delaware law states that drivers must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. It also states pedestrians shall not suddenly walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close it constitutes an immediate hazard.

Beaufait raised a concern about the appearance of too many silent policemen.

“If we start putting these things at every crosswalk, we're going to have a city full of silent policemen,” he said. “It doesn't make the city look good, I believe, having these things out in the road.”

If a specific silent policeman sign is hit often, Horvath said, the city should consider adding a sign along the curb. However, he said, it is the driver's responsibility to pay attention and keep an eye out for the silent policemen.

“If there is plenty of room for your car to get around it and you strike it with your car, well, then shame on you. That's your fault,” he said.