SANTA MONICA—Santa Monica Police Department will be on the streets on Friday, January 5 and Monday, January 8 to survey bike and pedestrian safety at areas where collisions are more common.
The SMPD periodically identifies and records areas of Santa Monica that have higher rates of collisions between motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Officers will be posted at various intersections and streets that are prone to accidents. Authorities will be watching those areas around Santa Monica from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day for the duration of the weekend.
Officers will be keeping a careful watch and reprimanding any dangerous or unlawful actions. According to a press release from Lt. Saul Rodriguez from the SMPD, authorities will direct special enforcement efforts 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.”
“Additionally, enforcement will occur for observed violations when pedestrians cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way. Bicyclists will be issued citations when they fail to follow similar traffic laws that also apply to motorists,” states the release.
Cyclists are being informed that anyone under 18 years old, is required to wear a helmet by law. Those over 18 are recommended to wear one. Pedestrians should only cross at designated crosswalks; jaywalkers seen at the intersections with high collision rates will be ticketed.
The goal of the Safety Operations are to reduce the risk of injury or death in motor- or cycle-related accidents. There were at least eight pedestrian deaths in 2017 and both the Santa Monica City Council and SMPD are looking to prevent serious injuries or deaths in 2018.
