October is recognized as National Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office in Perris is reminding drivers to be cautious and attentive to 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 crashes across the United States. In California alone, 1,106 pedestrians were struck and killed in 2023.
“In the City of Perris, walking should always be an easy and safe option for getting around,” said Sergeant Jeremy Bracey. “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 emphasized that vehicle speed has a major impact on pedestrian safety. A small increase in speed—such as from 20 mph to 35 mph—can greatly raise the risk that a pedestrian will be killed if hit by a vehicle.
Funding for this safety initiative comes from a grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For further information or media inquiries, contact the Media Information Bureau. Those interested in joining the department can visit joinrso.org or call 1-888-Join-RSD.
