The Monterey Park Police Department will step up Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 with focused enforcement on collision causing factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
The department has mapped out locations where pedestrian and bike collisions have occurred over the past two years, along with the violations that led to those crashes. Extra officers will be patrolling in an effort to lower deaths and injuries.
Officers will be watching for violations made by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. Enforcement will be directed toward drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks 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 and for bicycle riders that fail to follow the same traffic laws that apply to motorists. Bicycle 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.
Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are rising in California as more people use non-motorized means of transportation. Locally, the Monterey Park Police Department has investigated 124 fatal and injury collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists during the past three years. In 2013, California witnessed 701 pedestrians and 141 bicyclists killed, accounting 28 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Media Contact
Sergeant David Elliott, Monterey Park Police Department
delliott@montereypark.ca.gov
626-307-1481
www.MontereyPark.ca.gov
