October is National Pedestrian Safety Month

October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Atascadero Police Department would like to remind drivers to take extra precautions to help protect people walking.

“In Atascadero, we’re committed to reinforcing everyday safety actions like slowing down, following the posted speed limit, staying alert and yielding to people in crosswalks,” Commander Matt Chesson  said. “Drivers have an outsized role to keep all people walking safe. Remember that pedestrians do not have the same protections as drivers and passengers traveling inside vehicles.”

On average, 19 pedestrians are killed in traffic crashes every day in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA. In 2024, an estimated 7,080 people walking were struck and killed by vehicles. Of those people, 1,090 were killed in California alone (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts - noted on page 10). 

The Atascadero Police Department offers these driving tips to keep everyone safe:

• Follow the speed limit, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic, around schools and in neighborhoods where children are present.
• Slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for people crossing or walking at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• Use extra caution when driving at night or when driving conditions are less than optimal such as rain or fog.
• Avoid distractions such as using a mobile device, deep conversations with passengers or eating while driving. Keep your focus on the road.
• Drive sober.