SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will be operating a Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation to focus on efforts to decrease collision factors that involve motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

According to a press release Canyon News received from Sgt. Blicharski from the SMPD, the department has identified specific areas where pedestrian and bike collisions have a high prevalence rate. In addition, the police department has examined violations that led to those crashes.

Traffic officers will be on duty patrolling such areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and collisions have occurred aiming to reduce deaths and injuries.

Field enforcement operations will occur on Saturday, March 26 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Officers will be looking for violations committed by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. Special attention will be directed toward drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, failing to yield to pedestrians in cross walks and similar dangerous violations.

Enforcement will be taken for observed violations when pedestrians cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way. Bicyclists will be stopped and issued citations when they fail to follow the same traffic laws that apply to motorists.

All riders are reminded to always wear a helmet; anyone under 18 years of age must wear a helmet per the law. Pedestrians should cross the street only in marked crosswalks or at corners.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.