SAN FRANCISCO—According to a press release from the San Francisco Police Department website, the Department will be conducting Traffic Safety Enforcement Operations on July 6, July 14, July 24 and July 31. The focus of the operations will be on bicycle and pedestrian safety. In the past 3 years, the SFPD has identified several areas where a large number of pedestrian and bicycle-related collisions have transpired. As a result, the Department has deployed additional police officers in those areas in an effort to prevent deaths and injuries.
Special attention will be given to Focus on the Five violations: excessive and unsafe speed, unsafe turns, failure to stop for signs and signals, failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, as well as any other dangerous violations. The city of San Francisco is committed to eliminating traffic deaths on the streets by 2024 as part of Vision Zero SF. Vision Zero SF is the city’s commitment to prioritize safe streets for everyone.
Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are rising in California, as more people use these non-motorized means of transportation. In 2013, California witnessed 701 pedestrians and 141 bicyclists killed, more than 28 percent of all traffic fatalities.
All riders are reminded to always wear a helmet – those under the age of 18 must wear a helmet by law. Pedestrians should cross the street only in marked or unmarked crosswalks at corners. All motorists are reminded to be mindful of others who share the road. Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.or
The City and County of San Francisco adopted Vision Zero as a policy in 2014, to build better and safer streets, educate the public on traffic safety, enforce traffic laws, and adopt policy changes that save lives. The goal is to create a culture that prioritizes traffic safety and to ensure that mistakes on our roadways don’t result in serious injuries or death. According to the Vision Zero website, the result of this collaborative, citywide effort will be safer, more livable streets as we work to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2024.
For additional information visit http://visionzerosf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/VZSF_What-You-Need-To-Know.pdf.
To see what steps San Francisco is taking to achieve the goal visit https://issuu.com/sfmta_marketing/docs/vision_zero_action_strategy_final_d?e=1632400/45840967.
Written By Casey Jacobs
