Everyone who has taken a driver’s education class knows that you are supposed to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, but in New Mexico, that is more advisory than mandatory. Mayor Tim Keller is lobbying city councilors to change that in the City of Albuquerque.
Keller’s office is proposing an omnibus update to the city’s traffic ordinances that require more care from drivers, pedestrians and cyclists in the city.
Among the changes sent to the council:
- Crosswalks and crossings would now include those designated by traffic control devices, signage, lines or markings anywhere in the roadway, as well as multi-use trail crossings and could be used by bicyclists and pedestrians.
- Drivers must stop, not just yield, for users in crosswalks (marked or unmarked).
- Allows cyclists to treat stop signs and red traffic signals as yield or stop-as-yield situations, consistent with state law changes enacted this year.
- Directs pedestrians to use approved crossing zones, but also requires drivers to use care and stop for a pedestrian or cyclist in the road, even if they are not in a crosswalk.
“These changes bring us in line with best practices from around the country and reflect what we’ve learned over decades of studying roadway safety,” said Valerie Hermanson, Public Works Strategic Program Manager and Vision Zero manager for the city. Vision Zero is a citizen-led traffic safety program.
A 2023 state Department of Transportation report found that “pedestrian fatalities in Bernalillo County remain at the highest level seen in over a decade,” with 53 in 2023. That same report released last month found that 48 pedestrians and 3 bicyclists were killed on Bernalillo County roads in 2024.
The legislation was submitted to the city council, but does not yet have a sponsor or bill number.
