In an effort to improve pedestrian safety, San Francisco police took an unusual approach recently by having Lt. Jonathan Ozol wear an inflatable chicken costume while crossing a busy intersection. The goal was to issue tickets to drivers who failed to yield to a pedestrian. The exercise is part of the city’s broader Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities. According to Capt. Amy Hurwitz, the costume serves a dual purpose: ensuring officer safety while making it difficult for drivers to miss the pedestrian. During the operation, Ozol would enter the crosswalk as oncoming drivers approached from about 200 feet away. If a driver failed to yield, nearby officers were signaled to pull them over. Ozol said that violating the pedestrian law can result in fines up to $400. Within 30 minutes of the operation, 8 drivers were stopped for failing to yield.
