People walking in and around downtown Los Gatos sometimes feel they’re risking their lives by simply crossing the street. You venture into a crosswalk, peer left then right, and hope the cars in both directions stop to let you pass.

But sometimes drivers forget to look and fail to stop.

That’s why the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce will be installing a pedestrian flag system at 13 crosswalks in and around downtown, where buckets stocked with bright orange traffic flags will be attached to poles on either side of a street. When a pedestrian wants to cross, he or she grabs a flag, waves it to get drivers’ attention and then deposits it on the other side once he or she is safely across.

“It’s a step toward more permanent pedestrian safety measures,” Chamber executive director Zack Marks said. “We did a lot of research in other cities and found that Berkeley had a lot of problems with flags being stolen. We realize we might have that issue, but it’s such an inexpensive, simple solution that even if some get stolen it’s still worth the cost.”

Marks estimates it will cost $500 to $600 to put the flags at the 13 intersections. The cost is being borne by the Chamber and visitors’ bureau, and the installations were approved by the parks and public works department.

The flags will be installed at six crosswalks on Santa Cruz Avenue, two crosswalks on University Avenue in front of Old Town, the crosswalk at W. Main Street and Montebello Way, and the crosswalk in front of the library on Villa Avenue.

Three crosswalks on Main Street in front of Los Gatos High School will also have flags. “If we can save one kid from being injured, it’s worth it,” Marks said.

That’s exactly what the co-owner of La Esquina thought when she installed flags eight months ago at her restaurant at 551 N. Santa Cruz. La Esquina is across the street from the DMV and next door to Studio Kicks.

“The kids from Fisher Middle School and Studio Kicks use the flags,” Rose Cormejo said. “A few years ago one of my customers was run over, and I asked the town to put something here. Then I saw the flags in Willow Glen and I said, ‘We can do that.’ It helps a lot of kids–it’s all about the kids.”

San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood first began installing flags on Lincoln Avenue in 2013.

Los Gatos’ flags should be installed in time for the busy summer months ahead.

That’s just fine with Los Gatos native Chuck Cucco, who was hit by a car three years ago when he was crossing N. Santa Cruz at Almendra Avenue. Cucco wasn’t badly injured in the mishap, but thinks the flags are a “great idea.”