The Goleta Police Department Traffic Unit issued 22 traffic citations for a variety of violations made by drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians during a safety operation on March 29, 2022. In addition, four subjects were issued warnings and one vehicle was towed.

The citations were for various vehicle code violations where bicyclists or pedestrians made unsafe choices and the drivers were issued citations for infractions that were unsafe to bicycles or pedestrians.

“Safety is a shared responsibility, with drivers holding the greatest responsibility to keep other road users safe,” Sergeant Noel Rivas of the Goleta Police Department said. “We hope this operation serves as a reminder to everyone to practice due care and to look out for one another.”

The Goleta Police Department offer steps drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash.

Pedestrians:

• Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.
• Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.
• Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
• Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.
• Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers:

• Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
• Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists:

• Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.
• Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.
• Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.
• If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.
• Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections. 

The Goleta Police Department will be holding another bicycle and pedestrian safety operation on a later date to be determined.

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

The City of Goleta contracts with the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services.