The men and women of the Glendale Police Department are committed to improving pedestrian safety. Last year, we obtained a $133,000 state grant to reduce speeding and pedestrian-involved traffic collisions. This grant specifically funds task force operations for speed enforcement on Glendale streets and for educating pedestrians regarding traffic safety. As a result, the department has increased its enforcement of pedestrian vehicle code sections and initiated a pedestrian safety outreach program using employees who speak English, Spanish and Armenian.
Since we have just started our educational efforts under the grant, I believe it is appropriate for me to clarify some issues concerning traffic safety and our enforcement efforts.
The conventional wisdom in California is that pedestrians always have the right of way. Although not technically accurate, this is certainly a good rule of thumb and, if followed, will help to prevent pedestrian injuries and deaths. California law does state that a driver must yield the right of way to any pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk or when driving across a sidewalk to enter a driveway. The law does not require that a driver wait until a pedestrian has crossed the entire street, but the driver must be sure that there is a safe distance between his/her vehicle and the pedestrian.
