October is National Pedestrian Safety Month. The La Mesa Police Department would like to remind drivers to slow down and be alert for people walking on our roads. Always taking extra precautions 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% of all traffic-related fatalities in the state. The high number of pedestrians injured and killed on our streets highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and safety measures for people walking.
“Every step we take towards greater pedestrian safety is a step toward saving lives and achieving the City of La Mesa’s Vision Zero plan to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by 2025,” La Mesa Police Chief Ray Sweeney said. “We want to remind everyone that safety begins with you, whether 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 La Mesa Police Department will conduct extra traffic patrols around pedestrian-heavy locations to educate drivers on pedestrian awareness. Staying off the phone when behind the wheel or walking is crucial to the safety of everyone on the road. The La Mesa Police Department also offers safe driving and walking tips:
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 care crossing the street. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
• Make it easier for drivers to see you at night – consider wearing bright colors, and reflective material, or use a flashlight when 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.
