The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will step up bike and pedestrian safety enforcement operations on Friday, April 24, and Monday, April 27, with focused enforcement on primary collision factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
The department has mapped out locations over the past five years where pedestrian and bike collisions are prevalent, along with the violations that led to those collisions.
SMPD Sgt. Rudy Camarena said extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and collisions occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries.
“Officers will be looking for violations engaged by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries,” Camarena said. “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.”
Additionally, 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 be stopped and citations issued 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 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.
