SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department will be conducting a Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation on Sunday, March 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The goal of the operation is to focus enforcement efforts on primary collision factors that involve motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
According to a press release from Sgt. Camarena of the SMPD, the department has identified regions where there is a spike in pedestrian and bike collisions, as well as violations that caused such crashes. Traffic officers will be on hand to patrol the areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and collisions have taken place to reduce deaths and injuries.
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. Bike riders will also be stopped and cited when they fail to follow the same traffic laws that apply to motorists.
All riders are reminded to always wear a helmet; those under 18 years of age must are required to wear helmets by 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.
