Pomona Police Department has an important message for the community!
ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT STATISTICS FROM THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY (OTS), FATAL TRAFFIC COLLISIONS INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS HAVE RISEN DRAMATICALLY ACROSS THE STATE. IN FACT THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED BY OTS:
Pedestrian fatalities increased 3.9 percent from 601 in 2010 to 625 in 2011.**
Pedestrian fatalities age 65 and older increased slightly from 150 in 2010 to 151 in 2011.**
Bicycle fatalities increased 13.2 percent from 99 in 2010 to 114 in 2011.**
**Data Source – Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) (Revised Mar. 2013)
THE POMONA POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAFFIC SERVICES UNIT WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE OF SOME BASIC TRAFFIC SAFETY TIPS:
Stop and look both ways before entering a street, even from a driveway or parking lot. Look left, right and left again before entering the street.
Make eye contact and make sure the driver sees you before crossing in front of a car.
Follow all signs and signals.
Start walking only when "Walk" or white pedestrian is showing.
If the red hand is flashing, you may continue to cross, but don't start.
Do not start walking against a "Don't Walk" symbol (VC 21456 (b)) or if the red hand is steady.
Use sidewalks, if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
Don't walk in the bike lane if there is a sidewalk available. (VC 21966)
Cross at corners, with or without a sidewalk, this is the safest place. Crossing at mid-block where drivers are not expecting to see you is the most common cause of pedestrian injury.
Pedestrians do not automatically have the right of way, even when there is a cross walk. Pedestrians must give cars enough time to stop before entering the street. (VC 21950 (b))..
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AND GUIDES CAN BE FOUND ON THE OTS AND NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEBSITES AT:
http://www.ots.ca.gov/pdf/BicyclePedSafetyBrochure.pdf
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Pedestrians
