Sacramento, Calif. — In an effort to enhance pedestrian safety, Sacramento is preparing to enforce stricter parking regulations around crosswalks citywide. Starting in January 2025, fines will be issued to drivers who park their vehicles illegally near sidewalks and crosswalks, as part of a state law known as “daylighting.”
This law, which aims to clear the areas near crosswalks from parked cars to provide drivers a clearer view of pedestrians, prohibits parking within 20 feet of crosswalks throughout California. Although initially implemented last year, cities have so far only issued warnings. However, with pedestrian fatalities rising across the state, the city plans to begin strict enforcement of these regulations to curb these incidents.
According to the California State Library, California joins over 40 other states that have adopted daylighting laws. Local city officials, including those in Sacramento, have been tasked with deciding the scale of fines and the specifics of law enforcement in their jurisdictions. The current fine for parking violations in Sacramento stands at $60, but exact amounts under the new enforcement phase are yet to be determined.
City officials are committed to implementing the necessary changes to support this law. Gabby Miller, a representative from the city’s communication department, highlighted efforts such as adding red curb striping and new signage to inform residents of the no-parking zones. These measures are intended to prevent any confusion among drivers and ensure compliance.
The increase in pedestrian safety measures comes in response to alarming statistics presented by the Governors’ Highway Safety Association, which estimates that over 7,500 pedestrians were fatally struck by vehicles in recent years. Sacramento’s city council is taking these figures seriously, with the city’s Law and Legislation Committee recently moving forward a proposal for an emergency declaration to address this issue.
During the hearing, Vice Mayor Caity Maple pointed out the harsh reality behind the numbers: “Over the past decade, within Sacramento’s city limits, there have been over 5,000 collisions involving pedestrians or cyclists, leading to at least 264 reported preventable fatalities. These numbers represent real people—children, parents, grandparents—members of our community whose lives have been irrevocably changed.”
Adding to the emphasis on child safety, Jennifer Rubin of Safe Kids – Greater Sacramento noted the particular vulnerability of children, who are less likely to pay attention and more likely to dart into the street unexpectedly. “As much as we can do to look both ways and pause for traffic; it’s also good to give drivers a head start to see them,” Rubin stated.
Pedestrian safety advocates argue that while the law is a step in the right direction, public awareness is crucial to its success. Kendra Ramsey, the executive director of the California Bicycle Association, compared the new parking regulations to the prohibitions on parking near fire hydrants: “Whether or not there’s a curb marked, we know we’re not supposed to park there,” Ramsey said, emphasizing the need for public education on the issue.
The new state law also complements Sacramento’s Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate all pedestrian deaths in the city by 2027. As these new regulations take shape, the hope is that enhanced visibility at intersections will significantly reduce the number of accidents and fatalities involving pedestrians.
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