Sebastopol police step up enforcement in crash-prone areas

Sebastopol police will be stepping up traffic enforcement over three days this weekend, on the lookout for violations by pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and other drivers in areas where collisions have occurred in the past.

On Friday and Saturday, police will look for violations by motorcyclists and other drivers. Motorcycle fatalities jumped more than 28 percent in California from a decade low of 352 in 2010 to 453 in 2013, police said. Primary causes of motorcycle crashes include speeding, unsafe turning and impairment due to alcohol and other drugs by both riders and drivers alike, according to Sgt. Dave Harston.

On Sunday, Sebastopol police will turn their attention to violations made by bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists. Extra officers will patrol areas where bike and pedestrian crashes are known to occur.

Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life-changing injuries. Special attention will be directed toward drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, and failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

Additionally, pedestrians who cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way can expect a citation. Bike riders will be stopped and citations issued when they fail to follow the same traffic laws that apply to motorists.

Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are rising in California as more people use non-­motorized means of transportation. In 2013, there were 701 pedestrians and 141 bicyclists killed in California, accounting for more than 28 percent of all traffic fatalities, Harston said.

The Sebastopol Police Department has investigated one fatal and numerous injury collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists during the past three years.