The San Diego Police Department is ramping up efforts to tackle distracted driving and improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. Police announced that thanks to a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (@OTS_CA), detailed operations will be launched on specific days in January to zero in on risky behaviors on the roads.
According to a Facebook post by the department, the OTS grant is designed specifically to fund these types of initiatives, allowing law enforcement to proactively monitor and enforce traffic laws. The grant-funded distracted driving operations are set to quickly take place on January 2, 23, and 30, while bike and pedestrian safety operations are scheduled for January 11 and 18. Authorities aim to check for any sort of distracted driving and unsafe behaviors that could put cyclists and pedestrians at risk.
"During these dates, we'll be actively monitoring for distracted driving and unsafe behaviors affecting cyclists and pedestrians," the San Diego Police Department stated in a notice to the community. They also emphasized the importance of avoiding distractions such as phone use while driving or walking, reminding residents that, "distractions like using your phone can wait – your safety can't."
The initiative, branded with hashtags like #DriveSafeSD, #PedestrianSafety, and #DistractedDriving, signals the department's commitment to reducing accidents and fatalities associated with inattentive driving. The department encourages drivers and pedestrians alike to "drive and walk with care," thereby collectively working to actively make San Diego's streets safer for everyone.
