SMPD stepping up pedestrian and bicycle safety enforcement

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Santa Maria Police Department will step up Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 with focused enforcement on collision causing factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.  

The department has mapped out locations over the past 3 years where pedestrian and bike collisions have occurred along, with the violations that led to those crashes.  Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and crashes occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries.    

Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries.  Special attention will be directed toward drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or any other dangerous violation.

Pedestrians will be issued citations for crossing the street illegally and failing to yield to drivers who have the right of way.

Bike riders will be cited when they fail to follow the same traffic laws that apply to motorists.  

All bike riders are reminded to always wear a helmet, those under 18 years of age must wear helmets by law.

The Santa Maria Police Department says it has investigated over 228 injury collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists during the past three year with 4 of those resulting in fatalities.  

Funding for the pedestrian and bike safety operation is part of a $260,000 grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety.