The Petaluma Police Department has announced a “Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation” in an effort to curb dangerous driving and make local streets safer for bikers, pedestrians and other drivers.
The traffic safety operation, lasting from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, will target such violations as speeding, illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists and pedestrians, and failing to stop at signs and signals, police said.
“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car,” said Officer Chris Ricci in a public message posted via Nixle. “Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.”
Police are also reminding all who go out on the roads that there are steps they can take to reduce the risk of accident or injury.
For vehicle drivers, slow down, especially at intersections, and “be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks, and between intersections where pedestrians may cross,” police said. Drivers also should not block crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
For pedestrians, police say to “be predictable,” stick to crosswalks and “take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.” When it comes to stepping out in front of vehicles, remember that, “At 30 miles per hour, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.”
Police also say it’s helpful for pedestrians to “Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.”
For bicyclists, police advise obeying traffic laws, using hand signals, using lights at night and wearing a helmet. Police also remind bike riders to yield to pedestrians, not to ride too closely to parked cars, and “if there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.”
Bicyclists must also travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle, police said.
Funding for Friday’s traffic safety program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.