October is recognized as National Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging drivers to take extra care to protect pedestrians. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the risks pedestrians face and promote safer behaviors on the road.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a pedestrian is killed every 72 minutes and one is injured every 8 minutes in traffic crashes nationwide. In California alone, 1,106 pedestrians were struck and killed in 2023.
“In Calimesa, walking should always be an easy and safe option for getting around,” said Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Michael Hinkle. “We want to make sure that people walking are safe. We urge drivers to take the time to look out for people. Small actions, like slowing down, putting away distractions and yielding at crosswalks, can reduce crashes and serious injuries.”
The sheriff’s office highlighted that vehicle speed plays a critical role in pedestrian safety. Even a small increase in speed—from 20 MPH to 35 MPH—can significantly raise the likelihood of fatal outcomes if a pedestrian is struck.
The program promoting these safety measures is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For those interested in joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, information about career opportunities can be found at joinrso.org or by calling 1-888-Join-RSD.
