A campaign designed to catch your eye at nearly level is now in high gear in the French Quarter and CBD.
"Everybody does, sometimes, behaviors that aren't the safest or aren't legal," Dan Jatres, Pedestrian and Bicycle Program Manager with New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, said.
He says it's time people are reminded to take more precaution.
The Commission has launched a campaign in conjunction with a statewide initiative to reduce accidents.
It all began in March, and as part of the effort, signs have been put up all over heavily trafficked downtown areas. Notably, some plastered on the ground, warning pedestrians near intersections to obey traffic laws.
But what are the laws? Eyewitness News talked with some pedestrians to see if they're aware. Is it jaywalking if someone crosses mid-block?
"It can be done safely," Jatres said.
First off, that is actually legal, according to Jatres, but who has the right of way? Eyewitness news asked Traline McKinley who was standing on the neutral ground on Canal who has the right of way.
"It depends on which way you're going."
In this case, Jatres says, the pedestrian has to yield to traffic.
"In Louisiana, drivers are only required to yield to pedestrians that are crossing at a crosswalk," he said.
We asked another pedestrian if you're already in the crosswalk, and a car turns, who's right is it?
"You should have the right of way," Troy Forest said.
That's also true, but Jatres reminds everyone to be on the side of caution because it's hard to figure if a pedestrian entered the crosswalk too quickly before a car, or if it was a driver speeding in case of an accident.
So now, what about drivers? Signs have been placed near I-10 and on major streets as a reminder.
A sign near Claiborne and I-10 says there are over 55 crashes with pedestrians and bicyclists a year. Another one near Elk and Canal says there are 64 crashes per year involving pedestrians and bicyclists.
The signage will be around through the end of May, but the goal is to reduce accidents in the state by 2030.