The Bakersfield Police Department will step up their pedestrian safety enforcement during the holiday season by cracking down on drivers and pedestrians who violate traffic laws meant for all those who use the roadway.
Along with cracking down on both drivers and pedestrians who violate traffic laws, Bakersfield Police will also conduct routine traffic patrols in trouble spots.
Over the past three years, Bakersfield Police Department has mapped out locations where these kinds of incidents are prone.
Officers with the department will be watching for incidents where life changing injuries can occur. Officers will also be paying special attention to drivers who are speeding, distracted, making illegal turns, not stopping for signs or signals, and not yielding to pedestrians in a cross walks.
During the past three years the Bakersfield Police Department has investigated 49 fatal and injury collisions involving pedestrians.
The following are tips for both drivers and pedestrians to take into account
Drivers:
- Look out for pedestrians, especially at night or in bad weather conditions
- Slow down or be prepared to stop when turning or entering a cross walk where pedestrians are likely to be
- Stop at the cross walk stop line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to see and yield for pedestrians too
- Be cautious when backing up, pedestrians especially young children, can move across your path
Pedestrians:
- Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road, cross at crosswalks or intersections, and obey signs and signals
- Walk facing traffic, and if there is no sidewalk, walk as far from traffic as possible
- Pay attention to to the traffic moving around you
- Make eye contact with drivers as they approach, never assume a driver sees you
- Wear bright colored clothing during the day and reflective materials (or flashlight) at night
- Look left-right-left before crossing the street
