Police in the city of Manhattan Beach are attempting to reduce instances of pedestrians being struck in the streets. They recently conducted an operation that sought to improve the safety of pedestrians, cracking down on drivers and pedestrians alike for committing actions that could contribute to a vehicle strike. 21 tickets were handed out in all, and the department intends to continue their safety efforts throughout the remainder of the year.
A new report detailing the department’s efforts also explains some of the ways that Manhattan Beach visitors can contribute to safety. In doing, the hope is that there could be even fewer pedestrian collisions than the seven which took place between July 24 of last year and this year.
Pedestrians are advised to use marked crosswalks and intersections to get to the other side of the street and not automatically think that they know a driver’s intentions. Eye contact should be made with vehicle operators, which also means that cellphones and texting in particular should wait until the pedestrian has stepped away from a busy thoroughfare. Particular attention should be placed on parking lot exits and driveways.
Drivers, for their part, can contribute to safety by always being alert, especially in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians should be given the right of way, and if a car is waiting at a crosswalk, the driver of another car should not pilot around them, as the first vehicle could be waiting for an unseen pedestrian.