The Madera Police Department is conducting a traffic safety operation Wednesday focused on dangerous driving behaviors that put pedestrians and bicyclists at risk, officials said in a news release.

The enforcement effort will target speeding, distracted driving such as cell phone use, illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, and failing to stop at signs and signals, according to the department.

“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car,” the department said in the release. “Pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protection vehicles have. We should all be looking for one another.”

The department urged pedestrians to use crosswalks when available, remain visible to drivers, and avoid stepping into traffic unexpectedly. Officials noted that at 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.

Safety tips also included wearing light or reflective clothing at night and using flashlights during low-light conditions such as dawn and dusk.

Drivers were advised to slow down at intersections, prepare to stop for pedestrians at both marked and unmarked crosswalks, avoid blocking crosswalks while turning right, and never drive impaired.

Funding for the program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the release said.

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