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Category: Imperial Valley

El Centro, California - The El Centro Police Department is working with law enforcement agencies across the state to promote safe behaviors that allow drivers and those on foot to get where they need to go safely.

September is Pedestrian Safety Month, and California continues to see more and more pedestrians getting injured or killed on roads. In 2016, 867 pedestrians were killed and more than 14,000 injured in California alone. A report released earlier this year by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) projected that more than 6,200 pedestrians were killed in the United States last year, the highest number since 1990. So far this year one pedestrian has been killed and two injured in crashes in the city of El Centro. 

In order to reduce the number of collisions involving pedestrians, the El Centro Police Department  will have additional officers on patrol throughout the month of September specifically focused on drivers and pedestrians who violate traffic laws that increase the risk of crashes. These violations include speeding, driving or walking distracted and/or impaired, failing to stop for signs and signals, and not yielding to drivers/pedestrians who have the right of way.

“Someone crossing the street should not have to fear for one’s life, but they should also be mindful that drivers are going places too,” El Centro Police Department, Sergeant, James Thompson said. “It goes both ways.”

Despite advancements in vehicle technology that increase the chance of survival for drivers and passengers in crashes, pedestrians face the same amount of risk of getting seriously injured or killed when struck by a vehicle.

“Sooner or later, a driver has to get out of their car and walk, so we are all pedestrians at some point,” El Centro Police Department, Sergeant, James Thompson said.

“Think about how you would want a driver to act when you are walking, and vice versa. Keep that in mind and follow the rules of the road so we can all arrive where we’re headed safely, regardless of how we get there.”

The El Centro Police Department offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to keep everyone safe:

For Pedestrians

For Drivers

Funding for pedestrian safety enforcement is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.