New Billboards Near Palm Desert Highlight Pedestrian Safety: 'Look Both Ways'

CABAZON, CA — Caltrans, in conjunction with local partners, has launched a pedestrian safety campaign called "Look Both Ways." The campaign will begin featuring billboards along state and local highways in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The first phase of the campaign is being launched in the Coachella Valley.

Earlier this year, Caltrans began working with the City of Palm Springs, Palm Springs Police Department, One-PS (a Palm Springs community organization), the California Highway Patrol, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) and more recently the Desert Regional Medical Center (Trauma Center) to address an alarming rise in pedestrian incidents across the region.

The agencies contacted Lamar Adverting who joined the effort as a supporter of the campaign by providing the billboards to increase public awareness. Lamar placed a total of five billboard ads along Interstate 10 (I-10) between Cabazon and Indio, one on Dinah Shore Drive and one on State Route 62 (SR 62) near Twenty-nine Palms.

The campaign is targeting all users of the highway system. Motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists are being encouraged to “Look Both Ways” and watch out for each other and themselves. Pedestrian-involved incidents have increased over the last few years due to several factors, such as increased traffic, increased population and distracting cell phone usage by motorists and pedestrians. The campaign reminds everyone to be more cautious and always watchful for people while you are on the road – whether you are walking, driving or riding your bike!

Caltrans District 8 Director John Bulinski states, “Caltrans and our partner agencies are united in doing all that we can to keep everyone safe. To put it simply, our hope is that the campaign will save lives.”

The second phase of the “Look Both Ways” pedestrian safety campaign will take place in the Inland Empire throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The third phase will follow in the High Desert. For safety tips and campaign information go to http://www.caltrans8.info

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SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION BY: Caltrans / This News Flash is the 146th in a series of videos highlighting Caltrans’ activities that present the wide-ranging and critical work that Caltrans does to enhance California’s economy and livability. To see more of these and other videos, search for #CaltransNewsFlash on Twitter or go to http://bit.ly/1ez3LYz.