Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Friday's Focus of OC Sheriff's Department

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will step up Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations on Friday with focused enforcement on collision causing factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

On June 17, extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and crashes occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries.

"The department has mapped out locations over the past seven years where pedestrian and bike collisions have occurred along, with the violations that led to those crashes," Lt. Mark Stichter said. "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, 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," he said.

"Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are rising in California as more people use these non-motorized means of transportation," he said.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has investigated 26 fatal and injury collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists during the past three years. In 2013, California witnessed 701 pedestrians and 141 bicyclists killed, accounting for more than 28 percent of all traffic fatalities.

And don't be surprised if you are pulled over while riding your bike. Riders under 18-years-old must wear helmets by law. Pedestrians should cross the street only in marked crosswalks or at corners.

"Bike riders will be stopped and citations issued when they fail to follow the same traffic laws that apply to motorists," he said. "All riders are reminded to always wear a helmet."

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.