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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 142 words of the full text and any section headings.

To the Editor: Dr Koepsell and colleagues¹ found that older pedestrians had a higher risk of being struck by a motor vehicle at sites with a marked crosswalk than at unmarked intersections, but this risk was nearly eliminated by the presence of stop signs and traffic lights.

A related strategy, which is being introduced in New Jersey and elsewhere, is to place signs in the center of streets in crosswalks, warning drivers to watch for pedestrians; for example, "Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalks—It's the Law!" These signs certainly get my attention and remind me to slow down when I am driving. Now that Koepsell et al have shown that crosswalks may be more dangerous than we thought, it is important to find out if these warning signs are useful or just another attractive nuisance.

George J. Hill, MD, MA
West Orange, NJ

1. Koepsell T, McCloskey L, Wolf M, et al. Crosswalk Markings and the Risk of Pedestrian–Motor Vehicle Collisions in Older Pedestrians. JAMA. 2002;288:2136-2143. FREE FULL TEXT

Letters Section Editor: Stephen J. Lurie, MD, PhD, Senior Editor.

JAMA. 2003;289:1244.

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