Crime Prevention Tips: Pedestrian Safety
As part of our 2009 department goals, the National City Police Department is committed to reducing pedestrian injuries and deaths in our city.
In an effort to do so, along with increased enforcement, we are providing citizens with information to enhance their knowledge and your safety.
Additionally, as part of the City of National City's commitement to the safety of the community members, a pedestrian bridge was built over East 8th Street, one of the cities main thoroughfares.
Important Safety Reminders
Your safety as a pedestrian is your responsibility! According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every year nearly 5,000 lives are lost in pedestrian related traffic collisions.
- Drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing streets in marked or unmarked crosswalks in most situations. Pedestrian need to be especially careful at intersections where the failure to yield right-of-way often occurs when drivers are turning onto another street and a pedestrian is in their path.
- When possible, cross the street at a designated crosswalk. Always stop and look left, right, and left again before crossing. If a parked vehicle is blocking the view of the street, stop at the edge line of the vehicle and look around it before entering the street.
- Increase visibility at night by carrying a flashlight when walking and by wearing retro-reflective clothing that helps to highlight body movement.
- It is much safer to walk on a sidewalk, but if you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic.
Pedestrian Safety Laws
- CVC 21954 (a) - Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.
- CVC 21955 - Between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signal devices or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the roadway at any place except in a crosswalk.
- CVC 21956 (a) - No pedestrian may walk upon any roadway outside of a business or residence district otherwise than close to his or her left-hand edge of the roadway.
- CVC 21956 (b) - A pedestrian may walk close to his or her right-hand edge of the roadway if a crosswalk or other means of safely crossing the roadway is not available or if existing traffic or other conditions would compromise the safety of a pedestrian attempting to cross the road.