A bill designed to increase visibility at crosswalks in California was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Assembly Bill 413, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-San Jose, prevents parking or stopping a vehicle along a curb at least 20 feet from a marked crosswalk, a safety measure known as daylighting. The regulation only applies to the side of the road of the vehicle’s approach to the crosswalk.
Restricting vehicles stopped or parked all the way up to the crosswalk can increase visibility for approaching drivers and drivers stopped in traffic by allowing them to see if someone is entering the crosswalk with more notice.
Crosswalks with curb extensions will need a 15-foot buffer.
“AB 413 will save lives and make our streets safer for everyone,” Lee said in a statement. “The signing of the legislation represents a simple, but important step forward to improving California’s road safety. California’s pedestrian fatality rate is nearly 25% higher than the national average. By increasing critical visibility of our streets, this bill will help prevent fatal accidents.”
Several cities, including San Francisco and Alameda, already implement daylighting at some crosswalks, but San Francisco’s regulation is currently set at 10 feet. The new law allows local jurisdictions to enforce a different distance if they have traffic safety data to justify doing so and if the space is marked with paint or signs.
Commercial unloading and loading can be permitted in local jurisdictions if specific crosswalks are identified, and the curb is marked with signage or paint.
The bill was championed by the advocacy groups Streets For All and the California Bicycle Coalition, known as CalBike.
Jared Sanchez, policy director at CalBike, said he applauded the governor signing the bill into law.
“As motor vehicles continue to dominate our streets and kill pedestrians at increasing rates, this is an important step to ensure our transportation system is safe for all users, especially the most vulnerable,” Sanchez said in a statement.
About half of all traffic-related injuries happen near intersections, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
Citations will be issued starting Jan. 1, 2025. Until then, local jurisdictions are instructed to issue warnings.
Okay but what does that do for streets that have bushes and other tall plants that also block views for left or right turns in neighborhoods?
If it’s a four-way stop, then landscaping usually allowed up the property line on corner lots. Tall fences may or may not be permitted up to the property line because most jurisdictions define a fence as a structure.
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If an intersection has at least one controlled direction, then landscaping and fences on corner properties are typically limited to 36 or 42 inches. The zone of visual clearance is referred to as “visibility triangle”. The size and shape of the triangle varies and depends on the speed limit of the uncontrolled traffic direction.
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Check with your city or county for specific regulations. And please file a complaint if you encounter an intersection where you cannot reasonably see oncoming traffic. They’ll review the case and hopefully follow up with you.
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There is house on a corner near our house that has a bush that blocks the view of on coming traffic from left so you have to pull out farther to see something is coming. I keep thinking about telling them to cut it down.
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Report the situation to your city’s traffic engineering division – usually part of public works. They’re suited to handle it because they can cite design and safety standards rather some seemingly random motorist driving by perceived as a know-it all.
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Besides, you pay taxes towards public streets. Hopefully they do their job and follow through. If not, escalate the case to the city engineer or chief engineer, then the department head. Still non-responsive? Hit up the City Manager or County Administrator. Last resort? Board of Supes or City Council. Believe me… govt staff doesnt want any case to escalate to the latter.
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It has been my experience the city doesn’t listen to me. I have registered a couple of complaints about things over the last forty years and they tell me there is nothing they can do to help. So I stopped calling them years ago.
Government is supposed to work for everyone. But perhaps your previous complaints were not within their legal purview.
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Your issue is related to public safety. People should hold government to a higher standard than being apathetic about it. Your call.
Pedestrian Safety, How about making it Illegal to JAYWALK again!!!
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Some drivers are to blame but there are also numerous stupid pedestrians.
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San Jose regularly cites how many pedestrians are killed in San Jose but regularly fails (ignores) to identify the real number that excludes incidents where the pedestrian is at fault like when jaywalking, crossing against a red light, pedestrians on freeways, etc.
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And here’s another… the term “gun violence” includes suicides with a firearm and police shootings.
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The best example of false and skewed data (lying) is when officials like Kamal Harris cite the number of “children” killed by firearms nationally… “children” in their statistic included 18- and 19-year olds!!! Those are legal adults – NOT children.
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I’m sure the police will be on the case, after they cite all the heads down drivers buried in their cel phones.
Once again Newsom is sticking to the important stuff.
This “crosswalks” thing is almost like a pandemic; the risks are enormous, democracy is at stake.
Gavin figures once he gets this crosswalks crisis under control, he can move on to the lesser issues of rampant crime and homelessness.
So glad Newscums on the job. Hard at work making our streets safe. Know what else would keep our streets safe? Locking up criminals. Getting the druggies off the streets. Addressing the mental health issues of the homeless. Prosecuting the scumbags that shoplift, rob, rape and assault innocent civilians instead of making BS excuses for their behavior and then turning them loose so they can terrorize more people.
So, between green bike lanes and red crosswalks we’re ready for Christmas.
Ha-ha, isn’t this the state that just made jay walking legal? Now were worried about people in crosswalks.
1. Create problem
2. Spend money studying said problem
3. Implement taxes and regulations to “solve” problem while taking full credit.
4. Repeat
They need to make “right turn on red” illegal. People turning right are looking “left” for an opening to enter the stream of traffic .,. not at what is in the crosswalk to their right.
We need leaders with a brain not slick hair. SF has removed freeways now complains about pedestrians being hit on there streets. Now there talking about taking 980 in Oakland out sure that will keep pedestrians safe.
I look at anyone in the crosswalk nowadays, and think this person is either born in another country or special needs. Grown men in America don’t use cross walks- you wait until the cars go by and cross. I don’t need to stop traffic in all directions just so I can cross the street. Who do I think I am, a king?
Should be a proposition for every new law passed they have to get rid of two old laws on longer needed.
… spend time, resources, create his own issue, create a fix – what a hero it makes him … spend all this energy on fixing major problems – Newscum? no – anything to pat himself on the back and leave accountability and responsibility to someone else … this is what voters wanted? sad…..
Did we not just pass a law allowing people to jay walk. Crosswalks are not needed anymore This law says don’t use crosswalk, this law says keep our crosswalks safe. Come on.
It’s surreal the attention little things get here, while glaring deep seated issues are ignored. Like washing a car you can’t start.
Bring back drivers education in High School.
Oh yeah and term limits for BOS!
Driver’s Ed is offered at the school district; online.
Not Driver’s Training though.