Full Notification

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    October 2nd, 2024

Santa Maria, Calif.– October is National Pedestrian Safety Month. The Santa Maria Police Department would like to remind drivers to slow down and be alert for people walking on our roads. By always taking extra precautions, you can help protect pedestrians and reduce the risk of crashes and injuries. Walking should always be an easy and safe option for getting around any community.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,522 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes across the United States in 2022. In California alone, 1,158 pedestrians were struck and killed on California roads in 2022, accounting for 26 percent of all traffic-related fatalities in the state. The high number of pedestrians injured and killed on our roads highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and safety measures for people walking.

Every step we take towards greater pedestrian safety is a step towards saving lives, we want to remind everyone that safety begins with you, whether you're behind the wheel or on foot. Small actions, like slowing down, putting away distractions and yielding at crosswalks, can make a life-saving difference.

To promote the safety of people walking, the Santa Maria Police Department will be assisting in Open Streets on Main Street, October 6th.  Throughout the month, SMPD will also be conducting traffic safety enforcement focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of pedestrians at risk. These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield, and running stop signs or signals. 

The Santa Maria Police Department offers safe driving and walking tips, including staying off the phone when behind the wheel or walking.

Drivers

• Do not speed, and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
• Never drive impaired.

Pedestrians

• Be predictable. Use signalized crosswalks where drivers may anticipate foot traffic. 
• Watch for approaching vehicles and practice due carecrossing the street. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
• Make it easier for drivers to see you at night – considerwearing bright colors, reflective material, or use a flashlightwhen practical.
• Be careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night or on busier streets with higher speed limits.

Share your thoughts about pedestrian safety by participating in the Go Safely Movement, a call-to-action traffic safety survey from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Take the survey 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. 

Prepared by: Santa Maria Police Department Traffic Sergeant Mike McGehee