Charles Hogquist said the signals can be confusing. Andy Hamilton, vice chairman for Walk San Diego, a pedestrian advocacy group, said something has to be done. About 134 pedestrians were killed in San Diego County last year, according to the county Medical Examiner's Office. Some of the deaths were attributed to confusion over traffic signals, officials said. In this case, the officer had the right of way.
State law makes it illegal to cross a street when a red hand or light is flashing.
Whether countdown lights would have helped in the Mira Mesa incident, however, is not known. Some are wary the devices may encourage pedestrians to take the countdown signals as a challenge to try to beat the countdown. Poway traffic engineer Michael H. Robinson spearheaded the move to modify the signals. He said the first of the new signals was installed at Midland Road and Hilleary Place. Another is at Twin Peaks and Espola roads.