SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department will be conducting a Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations on Saturday, January 16 with focused attention on primary collision factors that involve motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. The SMPD will be observing locations where pedestrian and bike collisions are high. They will also be looking at factors that led to those crashes.

According to a press release from the SMPD, traffic officers will be on duty patrolling those regions where bike and pedestrian traffic accidents have occurred in an attempt to decrease the number of deaths and injuries. The field enforcement operations will take place from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Officers will be on the lookout for violations taking place by drivers, bikers and pedestrians that can lead to injuries. Special attention will be given to drivers who are speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs or signals, failing to yield to pedestrians in the cross walk and other dangerous violations.

Authorities will also be looking at violations committed by pedestrians and bicyclists who cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way. Bicyclists will be stopped and issued citations if they fail to follow the same traffic laws that are applicable to drivers. Bicyclists are reminded to wear a helmet, those under the age of 18 are required to do so by law. The SMPD is also asking that pedestrians only cross the street at marked crosswalks or street corners.

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