CCPD Supports Pedestrian Safety – Think Two Steps Ahead

The Culver City Police Department is working alongside other law enforcement agencies across the state to promote safe behaviors, which will enable drivers and those on foot to get where they need to go safely.

September is Pedestrian Safety Month, and California continues to see more and more pedestrians getting injured or killed on roads. In 2016, 867 pedestrians were killed and more than 14,000 injured in California alone. A report released earlier this year by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) projected that more than 6,200 pedestrians were killed in the United States last year, the highest number since 1990.

In order to reduce the number of collisions involving pedestrians, the Culver City Police Department will have additional officers on patrol throughout the month of September. These officers will focus on drivers and pedestrians who violate traffic laws and increase the risk of crashes. These violations include speeding, failing to obey signs and signals, not yielding to drivers/pedestrians who have the right of way, and driving or walking distracted and/or impaired.

Advancements in vehicle technology have increased the chance of survival for drivers and passengers involved in crashes, however, pedestrians still face the same amount of risk of getting seriously injured or killed when struck by a vehicle.

“Sooner or later, drivers have to get out of their cars and walk, making us all pedestrians at some point,” Police Chief Scott Bixby said. “Think about how you would want a driver to act, when you are walking, and vice versa. Keep that in mind and follow the rules of the road. That way we can all arrive where we’re headed safely, regardless of whether we are in a car or on foot.”

The Culver City Police Department urges drivers and pedestrians to take the following steps to keep everyone safe:

For Pedestrians
Look left-right-left before crossing the street. Watch for cars turning and obey traffic signals.
Only cross the street in marked crosswalks, preferably crosswalks at stop signs or signals.
Avoid distractions. Stay off the phone while walking.
Make eye contact with drivers. Don’t assume drivers can see you.
Be seen. Wear bright clothing during the day and use a flashlight at night.
Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the shoulder, facing traffic and as far away from cars as possible.
Do not walk in areas with vehicle traffic after drinking or using drugs that affect judgment and coordination.

For Drivers
Follow the speed limit. The higher the speed, the longer it takes to stop.
Never drive distracted or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Look out for people walking, especially at night and in poorly lit areas.
Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks, even if they are not at a stop sign or signal. Prepare to stop when a pedestrian enters a crosswalk.
Avoid blocking the crosswalk when attempting to make a right-hand turn.
Be careful backing up and leaving parking spaces in shopping centers with heavy foot traffic.

From CCPD