A specialized six-hour operation on April 21 will focus on protecting pedestrians and cyclists.
High-risk driving behaviors that endanger cyclists and pedestrians will be the focus of a specialized traffic enforcement operation by the Santa Monica Police Department this Tuesday.
The six-hour safety sweep, scheduled from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 21, targets specific violations, including speeding, illegal turns, and failure to yield the right-of-way. Officers will also be monitoring intersections for drivers who fail to stop at posted signs and signals.
“Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have,” the department stated. “We should all be looking out for one another.”
To mitigate the risk of collisions, the SMPD issued a series of safety protocols for all road users:
- For Pedestrians: Maintain predictability by using crosswalks and wearing reflective gear or light colors during dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours.
- For Motorists: Avoid speeding, remain vigilant at intersections, and never block crosswalks while waiting to turn.
- For Bicyclists: Follow the flow of traffic, utilize hand signals, and remain outside the “door zone” of parked vehicles. State law requires cyclists to use front white lights and rear red reflectors after dark.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to protect the city’s most vulnerable commuters and is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
