SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department is cracking down on bike-pedestrian safety this weekend by conducting field enforcement operations across the city.
Law enforcement officials periodically note the locations where bike and pedestrian collisions are most common, according to a press release from the SMPD. Officers will be on duty later this week looking out specifically for violations pertaining to drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Field enforcement operations are scheduled to take place Friday, April 30 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 1 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike, pedestrian, and motor violations are most prevalent.
Focused enforcement efforts will be directed toward primary collision factors involving motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists while special enforcement efforts will be focused on drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, and failing to yield for pedestrians in cross walks – bicyclists will be held to the same standards and issued citations if they violate the similar traffic laws that also apply to motorists, notes the SMPD.
Enforcement will further be implemented toward observed violations of pedestrians crossing the street illegally or failing to yield to drivers who have the right of way.
Bicyclists are encouraged to always wear a helmet and those under 18 years of age must wear helmets by law. Pedestrians should cross the street only in marked crosswalks or at corners, emphasizes officials from the Santa Monica Police Department.