DEFIANCE, Ohio — A new ordinance in Defiance is aiming to keep pedestrians safe, but before the solution can be enforced, the problem still persists.
A few months back, Defiance City Council passed an ordinance to prohibit right turns on red in the city's downtown.
As the downtown has seen growth and development, more foot traffic has come in. With it, multiple pedestrians have been struck by vehicles.
Just last week, David McMaster, the president of City Council, was struck by a car turning right on red as he was crossing Clinton Street.
He said he has recovered fine, but the incident could have been much worse.
"I like to jog, I like to stay active. But if I were an older person, or say a mom with kids, even a bump is a game changer right there. So it did reaffirm, I think, in the long run this is actually a good choice, and people will hopefully feel safer downtown," McMaster said.
McMaster said as more foot traffic is coming into town because of business growth and developments, local drivers need to change how they drive through this stretch of town.
"Now instead of trying to get through the downtown area and get through all of the lights as fast as you can, it's 'slow down,' Because there really are people downtown sightseeing or just foot traffic shopping," McMaster said.
The city can not enforce the new ordinance until proper signage is installed. McMaster said the signs have been ordered and should be installed sometime soon after the New Year.
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