As part of its ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian safety in Daly City, the Daly City Police Department will be conducting a six hour pedestrian safety enforcement operation that will focus on motorists who fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.
Regrettably, since 2013, Daly City has experienced three fatal traffic collisions involving pedestrians. The most recent tragedy occurred when a woman was struck by an SUV on Mission Street while in the crosswalk at the intersection of Mission Street and Citrus Ave. The Daly City Police Department is committed to preventing these tragic deaths and is leading the effort with proactive enforcement and education programs.
The Department is conducting this public awareness and enforcement program to educate and encourage members of the community to develop and maintain safe practices while driving, walking and cycling. The six hour operation will take place on the 100 block of Park Plaza Drive near the Westlake Mall.
Officers will be conducting the enforcement operation at heavily traveled crosswalks. Officers dressed in plain clothes will be crossing the street while uniformed officers monitor the crosswalk for motorists and pedestrians who fail to yield the right-of-way or who take unsafe and illegal actions. Drivers and pedestrians stopped during this safety operation will be issued warnings or citations.
Crosswalk enforcement actions are an effective way to communicate pedestrian right-of-way laws to both drivers and pedestrians. The police department does enforcement actions in response to collision data, community requests and to educate the general public on the rules at marked and unmarked crossings. The department has conducted many pedestrian and bicycle enforcement efforts and have additional operations scheduled in the weeks or months ahead.
This pedestrian safety operation is another tool our department can utilize to improve traffic safety, where pedestrians are present, drivers must yield the right-of-way. This operation will serve as a reminder of this responsibility, and we expect that voluntary compliance will be improved as a result. Those who choose to ignore the law and the message will be deterred from future violations through enforcement, fines and higher insurance rates. As is the case with any other traffic law, it is easy to avoid a citation – in this case, simply yield the right-of-way to pedestrians who are in a crosswalk. The following safety tips can save lives and assist in preventing these tragedies witnessed far too often in Daly City.
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.
- Be cautious when backing up – pedestrians, especially young children, can move across your path.
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.
For additional information and traffic safety presentations at your school, community center or business, please contact Sergeant Matthew Fox at 650-991-8107 or at [email protected].
