Laguna police to focus on crosswalk safety Saturday

Laguna Beach police on Saturday will make a special effort to watch for motorists who make illegal U-turns and fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections that have a history of pedestrian-involved collisions, according to a news release.

Police will also look for pedestrians who cross the street illegally and fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way.

Laguna Beach police have investigated three fatal and 65 injury collisions involving pedestrians in the last three years.

California led the nation with 612 pedestrian deaths in 2012, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report. Nationally, 4,743 such deaths were reported that year.

Police remind drivers to stop at the crosswalk stop line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to also see and yield to the pedestrians.

Pedestrians can cross only at designated crosswalks and intersections, and police suggest they make eye contact with drivers and refrain from texting or talking on the phone while walking.

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

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce