The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will step up Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations during the month of July with focused enforcement on primary collision factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
The police department identifies locations where pedestrian and bike collisions are prevalent, along with the violations that led to those collisions. Traffic officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and collisions occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries.
The first field enforcement operation was held on Tuesday July 2. Additional operations are scheduled for Wednesday July 22, Friday July 24, Monday July 27, Wednesday July 29, and Friday Aug. 3. These operations will be conducted between the hours of 6 am and 8 pm.
SMPD Sgt. Rudy Camarena said officers will be looking for violations engaged in 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 and similar dangerous violations,” Camarena said. “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.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
