HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4086        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael S. Day, (BY REQUEST)

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4086        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

An Act to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the following new chapter:

An Act to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety.

PREAMBLE

Whereas, Ms. Anna LaViolette, a celebrated, and well-regarded resident of Winchester, Mass., was hit while at a crosswalk, in her local community, and died as a result of the accident; and many individuals have thought that action should be taken, to increase pedestrian, and traffic safety; this Act, is to be named, in her honor: “Anna’s Law.”

1.) The safety of pedestrians, and vehicular traffic, is a serious policy concern. Properly marked crosswalks, vehicle lanes, and other markings, help to protect pedestrians, vehicles, and improve general public safety. Due to the normal process of weathering, and volumes of traffic, the visibility of such markings deteriorates over time, and declines in the value of performing, its intended purposes.

2.) Therefore, this Statute, sets standards, which are to be regularly reviewed, enforced, incentivized, and when possible, assisted by the Commonwealth, in keeping these markings to a sufficient standard to perform their important role in public safety.

3.) The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, shall establish particular standards, that are suitable for safety of all markings, on roadways, streets, and other traffic surfaces.

The Mass DOT, should be encouraged, to provide modest financial incentives, for all local jurisdictions to keep these visual standards, in current, sufficient, and even peak conditions.

4.) Measurement of Lumens, by devices that measure reflectivity, and/or can be measured by light meters, and/or other standards; shall be further researched, and enumerated, in a formal listing or document: “Pedestrian and Traffic Markings Safety Maintenance,” to be established by regulation; with suitable public input, enforceable on all state, regional, and municipal roadways, and traffic surfaces, in the interest of health and safety.

5.) Roadway, and traffic surfaces, shall be measured, and ordered to be kept at a particular level of reflectivity, and visibility, in all areas. All local residents, may notify their local DPW offices, and/or the DOT of Massachusetts, when they believe that any of these markings, especially pedestrian crosswalks, and busy intersections, have markings that have deteriorated below a level, that would be useful in protecting pedestrians, and facilitating safer traffic.

6.) Municipalities may, and should be encouraged to, establish local hotline numbers for collecting such complaints, for prompt response.

7.) The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Transportation, shall also assess the costs of keeping such markings up to the needed level of safety, and recommend what appropriations might be shared by the Commonwealth, in training local municipal staff, to keep these markings as needed, to the legal standards.