Pedestrian Traffic Safety Awareness NR26046kt

Los Angeles: On Wednesday, March 4, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., officers from Valley Traffic Division’s Pedestrian Traffic Safety Awareness Task Force conducted traffic enforcement in the Van Nuys area to bring awareness to commuters and pedestrians on the importance of pedestrian safety at both marked and unmarked crosswalks.

The task force conducted 52 total stops resulting in 45 citations and 7 warnings.

Pedestrian safety continues to be one of the most pressing traffic safety issues in the City of Los Angeles and throughout the San Fernando Valley. The most recent publicly available data from the Los Angeles Police Department and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reflect a persistent and disproportionate impact on pedestrians involved in traffic collisions.

Key findings from the most recent year of available data include:

• More than 100 traffic fatalities within LAPD Valley Bureau in 2025, with thousands
more injured.

• Pedestrians representing approximately one-half of all traffic fatalities in LAPD Valley
Bureau.

• The San Fernando Valley ranking among the highest areas for pedestrian-involved
collisions, particularly along major arterial corridors.

• Speed identified as a primary collision factor in fatal and severe injury pedestrian crashes.

• A significantly higher fatality risk when pedestrians are struck at 40 mph versus 25 mph.

• Many collisions occurring at uncontrolled intersections, mid-block crossings, and during
dusk-to-nighttime hours.

• Vulnerable populations, including children and older adults, experiencing increased risk.

• Driver behaviors such as failure to yield, unsafe turning movements, and distracted driving remaining leading causes.

High-activity locations such as school zones, commercial corridors, and transit-adjacent intersections increase the likelihood of vehicle and pedestrian conflict. As traffic volumes and foot traffic continue to rise, the need for visibility, attentiveness, and lawful driving behavior becomes even more critical.

The LAPD Valley Traffic Division remains committed to reducing pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries through:

• High-visibility traffic enforcement.

• Targeted deployment in identified high-collision corridors.

• Community education and outreach initiatives.

• Reinforcement of drivers’ responsibility to yield at both marked and unmarked crosswalks.

• A strategic partnership with the LAPD Media Relations to expand pedestrian safety messaging through digital platforms.

• Coordinated social media outreach via @LAPDHQ and @LAPDVTD featuring a multivideo informational awareness campaign.

• Educational video segments addressing marked versus unmarked crosswalks, yielding requirements for crossing guards, school zone safety practices, and student and parent
drop-off etiquette.

• Ongoing content releases, with multiple videos already published over the past several weeks and additional releases planned in the coming weeks.

This combined enforcement and education approach strengthens public awareness, reinforces lawful driving behavior, and supports the Department’s mission to preserve life and enhance roadway safety throughout the Valley.

For more information, please contact Sergeant Eric Swihart, Valley Traffic Division at (818) 644-8146.