SBPD Conducting Traffic Safety Enforcement Details

To promote the safety of people walking and bicycling, the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) conducted a traffic enforcement detail on September 6, 2023. This detail focused on unsafe drivers that pose a risk to those walking or riding a bicycle. Officers conducted a total of 15 traffic stops that resulted in 9 citations. 

To further promote road safety, the Police Department will conduct two additional pedestrian and bicycle safety details on September 13 and September 20, 2023. The officers will be focusing on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of pedestrians at risk. These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield, and running stop signs/signals.  

In addition to the pedestrian and bicycle safety enforcement details, SBPD will conduct general traffic safety enforcement from September 11, 2023, to September 23, 2023. These officers will be working in potential high-risk areas that could be prone to traffic collisions. These might include school zones, construction zones, and stop sign intersections. 

The Police Department offers safe driving and walking tips, including staying off the phone when behind the wheel or walking. Other tips include:

Drivers:

• Do not speed, 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.

 Pedestrians:

• Be predictable. Use signalized crosswalks where drivers may anticipate foot traffic. 
• Watch for approaching vehicles and practice due care crossing the street. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
• Wear light colors and reflective material, and use a flashlight to make it easier for drivers to see you at night.
• Be careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night or on busier roads with higher speed limits. 

Funding for all the programs mentioned above is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.