South OC Times

Yorba Linda, Ca. (March 14, 2024) - In an effort to improve road safety and reduce accidents involving bicyclists, drivers, and pedestrians, the Sheriff’s Department in Yorba Linda will be conducting a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement operation.

According to a statement from the Sheriff’s Department, the operation aims to educate all road users on traffic laws, rules, and responsibilities. This initiative will involve deputies monitoring and addressing violations that pose risks to roadway users. Violations such as speeding, illegal turns, failure to yield to pedestrians, running signs and signals, and other dangerous behaviors will be targeted during the operation.

The importance of this safety initiative is underscored by the increasing number of bicycle and pedestrian fatalities on California roads. In 2016 alone, 138 bicyclists and 867 pedestrians lost their lives in road accidents. The rise in pedestrian fatalities by nearly 33 percent since 2012 and a 25 percent increase in bicyclist fatalities over the past five years highlight the urgent need for enhanced safety measures.

Individuals are reminded to adhere to traffic laws, with pedestrians advised to use designated crosswalks or intersections, make eye contact with drivers, and wear visible clothing. Drivers are urged to be patient, avoid distractions, and yield to pedestrians. Additionally, all bicyclists are mandated to wear helmets, especially those under 18, and to follow traffic laws by traveling in the same direction as other vehicles.

The Sheriff’s Department is also in support of the new OTS public awareness campaign, “Go Safely, California,” which aims to promote safe practices on the road. For further information on road safety guidelines, individuals are encouraged to visit gosafelyca.org.

Funding for this safety operation has been made possible through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.