Bike-Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Coming Up In Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, CA - From the Santa Monica Police Department: The Santa Monica Police Department will be conducting Bike and Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations with focused enforcement efforts on primary collision factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Police Department periodically identifies locations where bike and pedestrian collisions are
prevalent, along with the violations that led to those collisions. In an effort to lower deaths and
injuries, officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic collisions occur.

Field enforcement operations are scheduled for Friday, February 15, 2019 and Monday,
February 18, 2019 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Officers will be on the lookout for violations by drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians that can
potentially lead to life altering injuries. Special enforcement efforts will be directed towards
drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, failing to yield to
pedestrians in cross walks and similar dangerous violations. Additionally, enforcement will occur
for observed violations when pedestrians cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who
have the right of way. Bicyclists will be issued citations when they fail to follow similar traffic laws
that also apply to motorists.

Bicyclists are encouraged 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.
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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