Moreno Valley Holds Pedestrian Decoy Program

MORENO VALLEY>> The Moreno Valley Traffic Team conducted a Pedestrian Decoy Program last month after receiving numerous complaints regarding motorists not stopping for pedestrians in various crosswalks and intersections throughout the city. The intersections are utilized for students walking to and from local schools in the area, and the California Vehicle Code requires motorists to yield to all pedestrians in a crosswalk. The operation was conducted at Eucalyptus Avenue and Sunnymeadows Drive and is one aspect of the Department’s Directed Enforcement Program. This program utilized an undercover police officer walking in the crosswalk. In previous operations, many of the motorists stopped for these violations said they never saw the pedestrian in the crosswalk. In an effort to make the pedestrian more visible, he was dressed in a bright orange “Traffic Cone” costume. According to the report, many motorists who were stopped said they saw the “Traffic Cone” in the crosswalk. "Our goal is to make motorists more aware of their surroundings and to be vigilant while driving, especially near schools and crosswalks," said Sergeant John Kaiser, Moreno Valley Police. The Moreno Valley Police offers the following safety tips for drivers and pedestrians. Drivers can: look out for pedestrians, especially in hard-to-see conditions such as at night or in bad weather; slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or entering a crosswalk where pedestrians are likely to be; stop at the crosswalk stop line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to see and yield to the pedestrians too; and be cautious when backing up – pedestrians, especially young children, can move across your path. Pedestrians can: be predictable by following the rules of the road, cross at crosswalks or intersections and obey signs and signals; walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible if there is no sidewalk; pay attention to the traffic moving around you; make eye contact with drivers as they approach and never assume a driver sees you; Wear bright-colored clothing during the day and reflective materials or a flashlight at night; and look left-right-left before crossing a street. During the two-hour decoy program, 21 motorists received citations for “failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.” In addition to the issued citations, one vehicle was impounded for unlicensed driver. The program is scheduled to run throughout the year at various locations throughout the city. Funding for the program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.