The Santa Maria Police Department will step up bike and pedestrian safety enforcement operations from August 18-25.
According to a news release sent to KSBY, extra officers will be patrolling areas in Santa Maria where bike and pedestrian collisions frequently occur in an effort to reduce injuries and deaths.
The police department has mapped out locations over the past three years where pedestrian and bike collisions have occurred, as well as the violations that led to those crashes, according to the release.
A police department spokesperson said officials will be on the lookout for drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or any other dangerous violations.
Police will also be looking for pedestrians who cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way, as well as bicyclists who fail to wear a helmet or fail to follow the same traffic laws that apply to motorists.
Santa Maria police did not specify where additional officers will be patrolling.
Funding for this operation is part of a $260,000 grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety.
