Sonora, CA…As part of its ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian safety in Tuolumne County, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Sonora Police Department (SPD), will be conducting a pedestrian safety enforcement operation that will focus on motorists and pedestrians who fail to yield the right-of-way or who take unsafe and illegal actions. On August 29, 2017, the enforcement operation will take place at various crosswalks within the City of Sonora and Tuolumne County. Regrettably, since January 2016, Tuolumne County has experienced 47 traffic collisions involving pedestrians, 25 occurred within the city limits of Sonora. CHP and SPD are committed to preventing these traffic collisions and are leading the effort with proactive enforcement and education programs.

Sonora Area CHP and SPD are conducting this public awareness and enforcement program to educate and encourage members of the community to develop and maintain safe practices while driving, walking, and bicycling throughout Tuolumne County.

CHP and SPD officers will conduct enforcement operations at heavily traveled crosswalks identified as having a high number of pedestrian injuries. Officers dressed in plain clothes will be crossing the street while uniformed officers monitor the crosswalk for motorists and pedestrians who fail to yield right-of-way. Drivers and pedestrians stopped during this safety operation may be issued warnings or citations.

Crosswalk enforcement actions are an effective way to communicate pedestrian right-of-way laws to both drivers and pedestrians. The CHP conducts pedestrian enforcement actions in response to community requests and to educate the public on the rules at marked and unmarked crossings.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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