Concord Police will conduct a traffic safety operation on May 17 from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.
“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car,” Lt. Gregory Rodriguez said. “Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.”
The Concord Police Department offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or killed in a crash:
Pedestrians
- Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.
- Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.
- Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at
least 90 feet to stop. - Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective
material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night. - Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.
Drivers
- Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
- Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
- Never drive impaired.
Bicyclists
- Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.
- Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.
- Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.
- If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.
- Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
11 comments
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Pedestrians should NEVER assume that drivers see you. Ive seen countless tumes where pedestrians at a crosswalk step off the curb with vehicles approaching.
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And stay off your phone when crossing streets!!!
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Bicyclists should also be defensive drivers… and stay off your phone!
Agree, and with the dark tint front windows you can not make eye contact with the driver.
Concur. Making eye contact is key. As a pedestrian, I’ll even wave in thanks or give them a positive head nod.
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A common issue is when drivers are attempting a right turn and I am on their right waiting for the walk signal. More often than not, they’re already looking to their left at oncoming traffic. If they blow the crosswalk, I’ll give em a disapproving look and point to my head (like “use your head!!!).
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At uncontrolled or mid-block crosswalks, I’ll first present myself to cross traffic so drivers are able to see my intent to cross and have enough time to slow down and stop… sometimes they’re going too fast so I’ll walk slower or stop short of the curb until they pass.
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Especially when said pedestrian is wearing black clothing from head to toe at 10:00 at night.
I believe due to an attempt to protect bicyclists, the powers that be legally gave them all the rights of cars while ignoring the laws of physics and human behavior. If a cyclist legally can do something like pretend he is a car in heavy traffic, that doesn’t make it a good idea.
And yet there will still be bicyclist that ride on the sidewalk, ride against traffic and blow thru stop signs, etc. If I could drive like they ride, I could be at my destination much sooner.
How about enforcing the law where if there are two lanes and it is possible to to so, the cyclist must be given the entire lane!
Joe
Bicyclists should ride single file in bike lanes. Two abreast causes bikes to be too close to the cars. We are supposed to leave what, 2 or 3 ft from bicyclists. And those bikes on Danville Blvd that ride in groups and take up the whole lane should be against the law.
I leave like 7-9 ft. or more AND I SLOW DOWN AS PER CONDITIONS. It’s windy out there !
I get a kick out of those bicycle guys riding in traffic on Ygnacio Valley Road where traffic moves way faster than the stated 45MPH. Even with a Lance Armstrong outfit, a miniature rear view mirror mounted to their glasses, and a tailwind, they can’t cruise at that kind of speed.
You’ve got to be one trusting bicyclist to court trouble like that. Sort of like those kids that walk on railroad tracks with headphones on.
My wife had a female bike rider in her lane riding straight at her. The cars behind her had to stop and the lady flipped off everyone. Can the police focus on the bike riders who don’t know the rules of the road.
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