Crime & Safety
Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation Planned for San Bruno and Millbrae
Pedestrian safety education and enforcement on Tuesday, January 19, 2016
SAN MATEO COUNTY POLICE CHIEFS & SHERIFF ASSOCIATION
P R E S S R E L E A S E
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2016
Contact: Sergeant Jim Ford (650) 777-4140 ford@burlingamepolice.org
Find out what's happening in San Brunofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation Planned for San Bruno and Millbrae
The San Bruno Police Department, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, and Burlingame Police Department will step up pedestrian safety education and enforcement on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 with focused enforcement on collision causing factors involving motorists and pedestrians. The focus of the operation will be conducted in the cities of San Bruno and Millbrae from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Traffic officers will focus efforts in trouble spots and conduct saturated traffic enforcement to crackdown on drivers and pedestrians who violate traffic laws meant to protect all roadway users.
Officers will be looking for traffic offenses made by drivers 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. Pedestrians should cross the street only in marked crosswalks or intersections.
Pedestrian fatalities are rising in California as more people use non-motorized means of transportation. In 2013, California witnessed 701 pedestrian deaths accounting for over 23 percent of all roadway fatalities, much higher than the national average of 15 percent.
A national study reveals that pedestrians and drivers do not obey laws and signals consistently and many often use cell phones, text and listen to music while walking or driving. Only 60 percent of pedestrians said they expected drivers to stop when they were in crosswalks, even though they have the right-of-way.
The following safety tips can save lives and stop this tragedy witnessed far too often in San Mateo County:
Drivers can:
- Look out for pedestrians, especially in hard-to-see conditions such as at night or in bad weather.
- Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or entering a crosswalk where
pedestrians are likely to be.
- Stop at the crosswalk stop line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to see and
yield to the pedestrians too.
- Be cautious when backing up – pedestrians, especially young children, can move across
your path.
SAN MATEO COUNTY
POLICE CHIEFS & SHERIFF ASSOCIATION
Pedestrians can:
- Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road, cross at crosswalks or intersections, and obey signs and signals.
- Walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible if there is no sidewalk.
- Pay attention to the traffic moving around you. This is not the time to be texting or talking on a cell phone.
- Make eye contact with drivers as they approach. Never assume a driver sees you.
- Wear bright clothing during the day and reflective materials (or use a flashlight) at night. - Look left-right-left before crossing a street.
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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Source Credit: San Mateo County Police Association
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