Watsonville Police to up pedestrian enforcement in September

The Watsonville Police Department will be cracking down on pedestrian safety in September, which has been designated as “California Pedestrian Safety Month.”

Traffic officers working overtime, as well as those on patrol will be focusing on both drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians, as well as pedestrians not following the rules.

Watsonville Police, along with the Office of Traffic Safety, transportation agencies and advocates say they plan to promote awareness throughout the month, pushing the message “pedestrians don’t have armor.”

Both in California and nationally, the number of pedestrians killed or injured on roadways is rising at alarming rates. In 2016, 867 pedestrians were killed and more than 14,000 injured in California alone, a nearly 33 percent increase from 2012.

Pedestrians should always use crosswalks or intersections with a stop sign or light, make eye contact with drivers and look before stepping into a crosswalk. Drivers should be alert for pedestrians, use caution when backing up and be courteous and patient, waiting for pedestrians with right of way to safely cross street. Both drivers and pedestrians should avoid distractions by not using cell phones and focusing on the task at hand.

Safety goes both ways, and drivers and pedestrians must work together to exhibit safe behaviors that protect themselves and those around them, reducing injuries and saving lives.