Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety and Enforcement Operation

What:
Valley Traffic Division of the Los Angeles Police Department will be conducting a Pedestrian
Crosswalk Safety and Enforcement Operation as part of the “Pedestrian and Child Safety  
Campaign” scheduled for LAPD’s Valley Bureau during the 2012 calendar year.

When:
Thursday, March 22, 2012
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Where:
The enforcement operation(s) will be conducted at two locations within the LAPD’s North Hollywood Division.  The schedule for enforcement operation(s) are as follows:

2:00 to 3:00 p.m., Lankershim Blvd and Campo de Cahuenga
3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Ventura Blvd and Arch Dr.

Who:
Valley Traffic Division Officers

Why:
This operation will be conducted in an effort to promote pedestrian safety through education and enforcement of the rules of the road as it pertains to vehicle and pedestrian violations.  The goals of this operation will be to improve pedestrian safety, to change dangerous pedestrian behaviors, to change dangerous driver behavior, to change dangerous behaviors near intersections and to reduce injury(s), death, and property damage associated with vehicle verses pedestrian traffic collisions.

Valley Traffic Division motorcycle officers will be monitoring high volume intersections to look for vehicles not yielding to pedestrians legally in the crosswalk.  The officers will also stop and cite pedestrians that do not enter the crosswalk legally or in a safe manner.

As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports the lowest highway deaths since 1949, but an increase in fatalities among pedestrians, Valley Traffic Division wants to remind motorist and pedestrians that we as a collective group have the responsibility for the safety of all who use the roadways.  “In 2011, Valley Traffic Division reported 56 fatalities of which 27 involved pedestrians. During 2012, 9 fatalities have been reported of which 5 involved pedestrians.   The operation will be conducted in an effort to promote traffic safety.  We want to bring awareness to motorists and pedestrians of the safety considerations that should be taken when travelling in the vicinity of crosswalks, marked and unmarked.

Contact:
If you have any questions regard this operation, please call Valley Traffic Division Sergeant Arturo Gomez at 805-559-9637 or Valley Traffic Division Watch commander at 818-644-8010.