PPD Focuses on Cyclist and Pedestrian Safety

Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News

Pasadena Police Department will step up Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations on Friday Sept. 21 with focused enforcement on collision causing factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. Special attention will be directed toward drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, and failing to yield to pedestrians in cross walks or any other dangerous violation.

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. Drivers should be mindful to give bicyclists at least three feet of room when passing per California Vehicle Code section 21760.

The number of pedestrians and bicyclists killed or seriously injured is a problem that is growing at an alarming rate. In 2016, 867 pedestrians were killed on California roads, a nearly 33 percent increase from 2012. Bicyclist deaths are also trending in the wrong direction, with 138 bicyclists killed in 2016, which is a nearly 25 percent increase over the past five years.

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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