San Luis Obispo police Tuesday will be on the lookout for pedestrians not using crosswalks, bicyclists violating traffic laws and drivers putting bicyclists and pedestrians at risk.
Officers will be out looking for violations including drivers speeding and failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, pedestrians who cross streets illegally or don’t yield when drivers have the right of way and bike riders on the wrong side of the road or violating traffic laws.
The enforcement will be done in trouble spots. The goal is to educate bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians amid rising fatalities.
Some in the area thinks it's a good idea.
"Having the police create this awareness is good for the overall public safety. Having people watch, pay more attention, have drivers be on the alert, slow down, and watch for people in crosswalks,” said Dorothy Hines, Nipomo resident.
In 2016, 138 bicyclists and 867 pedestrians were killed on California roads. This is a 33% increase over 2012 pedestrian fatalities. The number of bicyclist deaths are also up 25% over the past five years.
In 2019, the San Luis Obispo Police Department investigated more than 60 injury collisions involving bicyclists and pedestrians.
The safety operation is paid for through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Watch KSBY News at 5 & 6 on Tuesday evening for a live report on this topic.
