South OC Times

The Sheriff’s Department in Yorba Linda, CA, will participate in a bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement operation on Friday, May 31. The initiative aims to educate bicyclists, drivers, and pedestrians on traffic laws, rules, and responsibilities.

Deputies will focus on violations that endanger roadway users. These include speeding drivers, illegal turns, failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and ignoring stop signs and signals. Pedestrians crossing streets illegally or failing to yield to vehicles with the right of way will also be targeted. Bicyclists riding on the wrong side of the road or not complying with traffic signals will face enforcement actions as well.

The operation comes in response to rising fatalities among bicyclists and pedestrians. In 2016, California saw 138 bicyclist deaths and 867 pedestrian deaths. Pedestrian fatalities have increased nearly 33 percent since 2012, while bicyclist deaths have risen almost 25 percent over five years.

Authorities advise pedestrians to use crosswalks or intersections with stop signs or signals when crossing streets. They should also look for reversing cars, avoid darting between parked vehicles, make eye contact with drivers, and wear bright clothing during the day or reflective materials at night.

Drivers are urged to wait for pedestrians to cross streets fully, avoid distractions such as cell phones, and exercise patience. Bicyclists are reminded to always wear helmets—mandatory by law for those under 18—and travel in the same direction as traffic while adhering to the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Department supports the new Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) public awareness campaign “Go Safely, California.” More information can be found at gosafelyca.org.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.