Monterey Park- As part of its ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian safety in the unincorporated area of East Los Angeles, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), will be conducting a pedestrian safety enforcement operation that will focus on motorists and pedestrians who fail to yield the right-of-way, or who take unsafe and illegal actions. The enforcement operation will take place on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., at the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and Alma Avenue, within the unincorporated area of East Los Angeles.
Regrettably, from 2005 to 2014, the unincorporated area of East Los Angeles has experienced 662 traffic collisions involving pedestrians. The most recent fatal tragedy occurred on August 23, 2016 when a pedestrian was struck within the intersection of City Terrace Drive at Hazard Avenue while crossing the street. The CHP is committed to preventing these tragic deaths and is leading the effort with proactive enforcement and education programs.
The CHP is conducting this public awareness and enforcement program to educate and encourage members of the community to develop and maintain safe practices while driving, walking, and bicycling throughout the unincorporated area of East Los Angeles.
CHP officers will conduct enforcement operations at heavily traveled crosswalks identified as having a high number of pedestrian fatalities and injuries. Officers dressed in plain clothes will be crossing the street while uniformed officers monitor the crosswalk for motorists and pedestrians who fail to yield right-of-way. Drivers and pedestrians stopped during this safety operation may be issued warnings or citations.
Crosswalk enforcement actions are an effective way to communicate pedestrian right-of-way laws to both drivers and pedestrians. The CHP conducts pedestrian enforcement actions in response to community requests and to educate the public on the rules at marked and unmarked crossings.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
