California’s new “daylighting” law aims to enhance pedestrian safety at crosswalks.
Here’s what you need to know:
What is Daylighting?
Daylighting is a simple concept that improves safety by preventing cars from parking next to crosswalks. By keeping the area next to crosswalks clear of parked vehicle obstructions, both pedestrians and drivers can see each other better.
Specifically, the law prohibits stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any unmarked or marked crosswalk, or within 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present.
Enforcement and Grace Period:
The law, formally known as AB 413, was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom last year.
It was enacted this year, and motorists have a 12-month grace period before violators may receive parking tickets for non-compliance.
Why Daylighting Matters:
- More than 40 other states have similar laws in place.
- Pedestrian deaths in California are 25% higher than the national average, according to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
- Last year, from January to October, 134 pedestrians were killed by drivers in Los Angeles, and 427 people were severely injured due to accidents near crosswalks.
37 comments
Most drivers don’t care, they just selfishly are getting themselves somewhere. Blow through stop signs, don’t use turn signals, speed, turn left in front of everyone at stoplights. Lot’s of terrible drivers not sure ‘day lighting’ will help much.
@WC—Creeker – I agree with your comment; however, pedestrians must also take responsibility for their own actions. It is on a rare occasion that a pedestrian will look up from their phone or make eye contact with me when I am turning or approaching a cross walk.
What, exactly, is an “unmarked crosswalk”? Could that be any street or intersection? The premise of the law is sound, but parking enforcement will have a field day with all of the citations given out.
More nazification of goofy LA
Does this law mean that a car must stop at a signal 20 feet back from the crosswalk entry point?
It doesn’t matter if a pedestrian is walking in a crosswalk and not paying attention, you are the driver u should be stopping at all times. Pedestrians have the right of way no matter what..
Pedestrians DO NOT have the right-of-way, no matter what. And thinking they do is a good way to end up injured, or worse.
However, the state has found a new way to extort more money from the taxpayers.
This is not extortion. Google the word.
And it sounds like you trust the government 🤔?
However, the state will have a new way to grab some money from the taxpayers.
Of course it will help. How could it not? More visibility for both pedestrian and driver.
I might be crazy but I’m tired of the defeatist attitude in this community. As if nothing will help, it’s all going to hell. Certain major aspects of media only project doom and gloom and one can only wonder whose agenda they are carrying out.
Just last week Republican Representatives from Ohio and Texas recently blamed Russian propaganda for the division. They claimed the propaganda has reached the floor of the house of reps. Those aren’t California politicianS. OHIO ANE TEXAS. Both on high level national security committees. It’s time we start uniting and stop the endless petty griping. I’m a used up Marine and am sick and tired of the pettiness and people searching for a way to divide. Enough.
Too bad you’re blinded….
Why not check both parties instead of blaming one party….
Not true. There are some – SOME – drivers who do indeed drive recklessly, with no regard for others. However, they are the very visible minority.
And the problem is not that people are inherently bad – or that they were divided by the Russian propaganda, as a post below says. The problem is that traffic enforcement, as it once existed, has pretty much stopped. When was the last time you’ve seen a cop ticket a wannabe NASCAR driver weaving through the traffic at 80+ mph? Or a person get a ticket for running a red light? The only traffic enforcement I’ve seen lately were the motorcycle cops on Ygnacio writing speeding tickets. Which is not as much traffic enforcement, as revenue generation.
It’s the same story as with property crimes – once criminals figured out that they can get away scot-free with store looting, you’ve got more and more of the same, until the stores were forced to close. Drivers getting away with flouting rules and laws will also continue doing more of the same, until the increasing accidents and traffic fatalities will force insurance companies to pay attention.
As for this particular law – I have to drive through Berkeley campus from time to time. There are well marked crosswalks and there are hordes of students walking, running, riding scooters and bicycles. And there are – not cars, but delivery trucks with their blinkers on – parked not only next to crosswalks, but also on the crosswalks, double and triple parked, and what not. Making it really – and I mean REALLY – unsafe for everyone around. And not a single one of them is ever ticketed. Do you think will stop with this new law?
I agree, but having lived here for half my life and in 2 other states for extended time, I have to rate Pedestrians in LA as the most cavalier I’ve ever seen—I would love to see police step up their accountability by issuing more jaywalking tickets—a healthy respect for moving vehicles is a much-needed characteristic here in LA. The government is going to get their pound of flesh regardless—how about sharing responsibility between drivers and pedestrians?!
I do find frustration when I am positioned for a right turn and a person to the left pulls into the crossway obstructing my view.
😉
See it every day in front of my house. Vehicles hanging into the cross walk, hanging into our driveway, partially blocking it. And they just do not care. Maybe a ticket or two will help
That is very much a peeve of mine as well.
What happens now that parking spaces are cut back in number?
Handicapped people are simply ignored as by the PARKLETS?
You are required to know the rules of the road when you are driving a car. They’re not required to post a sign telling me to not park in a crosswalk.
You are actually being serious?
So, is this going to be something people are supposed to just know and do, or are they going to put the appropriate markers on the pavement/curbs to notify drivers? Because if it’s the former, good luck.
Same old cycle. Pass a law, nothing is done, apply for federal money, get $$ for a two day enforcement program, then back to nothing being done. In the mean time motorists unaware will get ticket while violators continue to ignore the law.
… won’t help… just another law dreamed up to make it look like somebody is doing something – all for political posturing 🙁
If Newsom is so concerned about pedestrian safety, then why did he sign the Freedom to Walk Act, which prevents the police from issuing a citation for jaywalking?
“[T]he law prohibits stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any UNMARKED or marked crosswalk….”
So, how does one identify an “UNMARKED crosswalk?”
If a crosswalk is “unmarked,” how do motorists determine whether they are too close to it?
In California, all intersections are crosswalks. One way to identify an unmarked crosswalk is any intersection where a pedestrian can cross the street from one corner to the opposite corner.
Do you seriously not know what a crosswalk is?
Let me help you out. Unmarked crosswalks are at every corner of every street that ajoins another street.
Look in the DMV drivers handook, I’m from N.Y., butt, live in Ca. now!!!!!!! ( it’s ONLINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW)
Mid-1950’s; my Mother moved to CA from AZ. Failed her first driving test here for not stopping behind the assumed crosswalk. Has long been been part of CA driving laws/rules.
At that time pedestrians in AZ did not have the right of way….
🙂
Politicians write laws that will need to be rewritten every couple of years.
That’s how they “fix” things and make themselves look good to the people who believe them.
Sooooo we won’t be able to park within 15 feet of a crosswalk, but it’s ok to jaywalk?! Every other day this state makes no sense!
Which city will be the first to use intersection
video cameras to mail tickets to violators ? ? ?
Here’s a concept. SLOW DOWN.
This has “blue law” written all over it.
Don’t let him mind you again. It’s not about keeping anybody safe They don’t give a crap about us. Just another reason to pull you over harass you and to tear money out of our pockets. Just another way to steal our money again.
Hey there clinical Joe, it’s a “parking” violation! Not a “moving” violation! No one will be “pulled over” because of it… 🤣🤣🤣
Good; One lost child is too many to lose.
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