October is recognized as National Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office in Palm Desert is urging drivers to exercise increased caution to help protect pedestrians.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a pedestrian is killed every 72 minutes and one is injured every 8 minutes in traffic incidents across the United States. In California alone, 1,106 pedestrians lost their lives after being struck by vehicles in 2023.
“In the Coachella Valley, walking should always be an easy and safe option for getting around,” said Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Captain Jason Sexton. “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.”
Officials highlight that vehicle speed significantly affects pedestrian safety. They note that increasing speed from 20 MPH to 35 MPH makes it much more likely that a pedestrian will be killed if hit by a vehicle.
The safety initiative receives funding from a grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For further information or media inquiries regarding this initiative, contact the Media Information Bureau. Those interested in careers with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office can visit joinrso.org or call 1-888-Join-RSD.
