Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations Planned for Simi Valley
The Simi Valley Police Department Traffic Bureau will increase pedestrian safety enforcement operations next week with focused enforcement on collision causing factors involving motorists and pedestrians. Routine traffic patrols will focus efforts in trouble spots, while special targeted patrols will be deployed to crackdown on drivers and pedestrians who violate traffic laws meant to protect all roadway users.
Pedestrian fatalities are rising in California as more people use non-motorized means of transportation. Locally, the Simi Valley Police Department has investigated dozens of injury collisions involving pedestrians during the past three (3) years. In 2013, California witnessed 701 pedestrian deaths accounting for over 23 percent of all roadway fatalities, much higher than the national average of 15 percent.
A national study reveals that pedestrians and drivers do not obey laws and signals consistently and many often use cell phones, text, and listen to music while walking or driving. Only 60 percent of pedestrians said they expected drivers to stop when they were in crosswalks, even though they have the right-of-way.
The following safety tips can save lives and stop this tragedy witnessed far too often in Simi Valley.
Drivers can:
• Look out for pedestrians, especially in hard-to-see conditions such as at night or in bad weather.
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or entering a crosswalk where pedestrians are likely to be.
• Stop at the crosswalk limit line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to see and yield to pedestrians.
• Be cautious when backing up. Pedestrians, especially young children, can move across your path.
Pedestrians can:
• Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road, cross at crosswalks or intersections, and obey signs and signals.
• Walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible if there is no sidewalk.
• Pay attention to the traffic moving around you. This is not the time to be texting or talking on a cell phone.
• Make eye contact with drivers as they approach. Never assume a driver sees you.
• Wear bright clothing during the day and reflective materials (or use a flashlight) at night.
• Look left-right-left before crossing a street.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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