CHP to focus on Stanislaus County drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians
The California Highway Patrol will be monitoring whether motorists are following traffic laws involving pedestrians in Stanislaus County.
The pedestrian safety operation will take place in the Salida area Thursday. Officers will look for motorists who “fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians or who commit unsafe or illegal actions”, according to a news release.
“Pedestrian-involved crashes in California continue to be a major concern for the CHP,” the agency said in the release. “From January 2023 through December 2023, preliminary data revealed 41 injury crashes involving pedestrians, including fatal crashes within CHP Modesto jurisdiction.”
The purpose of this operation is to “educate and encourage” the community to drive, walk and ride bicycles safely, the release said.
According to the CHP, basic safety practices for drivers include:
- Obeying the speed limit, slowing down at intersections and being prepared to stop for pedestrians at both marked and unmarked crosswalks.
- Not stopping in or blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a turn.
For pedestrians:
- Using sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible. “This is where drivers expect to see pedestrians,” according to the CHP.
- Taking notice of approaching vehicles and practicing due care. At 30 miles per hour, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop, the release said.
- Looking both ways before crossing and continuing to scan while crossing.
- Wearing light colors or reflective material and carrying a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk, or at night, to increase visibility.
- Using extra caution when crossing at night or on streets with multiple lanes and higher speed limits.
For bicyclists:
- Obeying traffic laws, using hand signals, using lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector) and wearing a helmet
- Traveling in the same direction of traffic and having the same requirements as slow-moving vehicles.
- Using bike lanes when available, except when making a left turn, passing or preparing for a right turn.
- Yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks.
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