Drivers are urged to slow down and be alert for people walking
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Oct. 06, 2026): October is National Pedestrian Safety Month and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind drivers to take extra precautions to help protect people walking.
“In Orange County, we’re committed to reinforcing everyday safety actions like slowing down, following the posted speed limit, staying alert and yielding to people in crosswalks,” Traffic Bureau Sergeant Ishii said. “Drivers have an outsized role to keep all people walking safe. Remember that pedestrians do not have the same protections as drivers and passengers traveling inside vehicles.”
On average, 19 pedestrians are killed in traffic crashes every day in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2024, an estimated 7,080 people walking were struck and killed by vehicles. Of those people, 1,090 were killed in California alone.
To promote the safety of people walking, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct traffic safety operations throughout the month focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of pedestrians at risk. These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield and running stop signs or signals.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department offers these driving tips to keep everyone safe:
Follow the speed limit, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic, around schools and in neighborhoods where children are present.
Slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for people crossing or walking at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
Use extra caution when driving at night or when driving conditions are less than optimal such as rain or fog.
Avoid distractions such as using a mobile device, deep conversations with passengers or eating while driving. Keep your focus on the road.
Drive sober.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.