The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is supporting efforts by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) throughout October to improve pedestrian safety and help reduce pedestrian-related crashes and injuries.
October is National Pedestrian Safety Month.
This observance recognizes the right of everyone to walk or roll safely and reminds drivers of their responsibility to stay alert for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users.
“Californians can do their part in reducing crashes and injuries by slowing down and being mindful of traffic,” said ABC Director Eric Hirata. “We can all look out for one another by keeping pedestrians in mind and following the rules of the road.”
OTS recommends these actions drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash, including staying off the phone when behind the wheel or walking:
Pedestrians
• Be predictable. Use crosswalks.
• Take notice of approaching vehicles and exercise caution. At 30 m.p.h., 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.
To learn more about ABC programs that help protect communities and prevent alcohol-related harm visit ABC enforcement programs or ABC prevention.
NewSCUM strongly supports this… NOT
Let’s all J-Walk………
They forgot to tell pedestrians to keep their nose out of their phone, and to remove at least one earbud while crossing the street.
If you want to be safe don’t go walking in San Jose. It is open season on pedestrians there.
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Be as safe as you can… never assume drivers will stop at crosswalks or actually see you. Make eye contact with the driver before proceeding.
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BE A DEFENSIVE PEDESTRIAN.
!2A Absolutely.
Walk like an Egyptian
This applies to us cyclists as well. Obey the bike laws, and don’t ride on sidewalks! If you HAVE to go on a sidewalk- hop off the bike (and walk along side of it). It’s important to stop at all stop lights and stop signals/signs too. This can be a challenge (especially riding up a hill) / but better to be safe than sorry. I use my bike for transportation – and have not ever had any close calls – as I’m very careful to respect automobiles (STAY in the bike lane) AND watch out 4 pedestrians. (Thank you Claycord for these important reminders)
I can not tell you how many times pedestrians have just walked in front of my car (crosswalk or not) without making eye contact with me or even looking to the left or to the right. Also, Newsom making jay walking legal is just asking for trouble. Drivers are not looking for pedestrians darting in the middle of the road they are looking at the cars all around them and anticipating the drivers next move. Time to make pedestrians responsible for their own actions.
…. “they are looking at the cars all around them ”
that’s not what i observe. most drivers are staring at their pacifiers
Didnt CA just legalize jaywalking in the name of social justice?
If October is pedestrian safety month why did Newscum pass the bill allowing jaywalking?
Upcoming election.
its painfully obvious why pedestrian safety is even a topic.
it wasn’t before EVERYONE is staring at their pacifiers all the time
If it is Pedestrian safety month, start with not letting high schoolers inundate
the Whole foods Parking lot downtown when school is out. Hundreds on their phones and never look at cars. Disaster waiting to happen.
Also Ygnacio Valley High takes over the Wells Fargo Parking lot in droves.
oblivious , distracted kids almost get hit everyday and are a nuisance and danger to customers in the shopping center..
Principals should be fired for letting this happen.for so long!
Police should go take a look at the mess asap.
The police know exactly what’s going on from the YVHS kids in that parking lot. I watched those kids and can tell you as a mid 70s YVHS grad that school has gone in the toilet attendance wise.
Kids used to hang out in that parking lot when I worked at the Lucky Store in the 70s, smoking their wacky tobaccy and carrying on. Along with the girls from Carondelet in their plaid school outfits….ahhh, the good old days.
I was surprised that our Govenor thought the best way to combat jay walking was to make it legal. If people of color were being targeted for jay walking, then I would assume people of color were not following the laws. A safety program should have been put in place at the schools speaking of the dangers of jay walking along with a don’t litter campaign. Kill 2 birds with one stone. Safety and cleanliness for all.