LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With Lake County’s roadways experiencing one of the deadliest Februarys in memory, county authorities are looking for ways to cut down on traffic-related crashes and deaths.
This month so far, there have been seven traffic fatalities — three of them involving pedestrians.
Lt. Dan Fansler, commander of the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office, said that some of the recent fatal crashes have been anomalies.
However, when it comes to the two recent pedestrian fatalities along Highway 20, there is a commonality — little to no street lighting and inclement weather during the hours of darkness, Fansler said.
Fansler said he’s in the process of meeting with Caltrans and other traffic safety partners to try and come up with realistic strategies to help combat these types of events.
The Highway 20 corridor “has an off and on history with these types of tragic incidents, partially due to the large amount of pedestrian and bicycle traffic” and the fact that it’s a major thoroughfare from Interstate 5 to U.S. Highway 101, he explained.
“We are routinely discussing options and possible solutions to these problems,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fansler reported that the CHP Clear Lake Area will be conducting increased enforcement this Presidents Day weekend on the Highway 20 corridor with a focus on pedestrian safety and searching for impaired and aggressive driving.
“Please be mindful that motorists and pedestrians share the responsibility to ensure the safety of one another within our small unincorporated townships and our scenic Lake County highways,” the agency said.
The CHP offered the following safety guidance.
Safety tips for pedestrians:
• Before stepping in front of a car, make eye contact with the driver. Make sure they see you, they plan on stopping, and they have time to stop.
• Most fatal crashes involving pedestrians occur during hours of darkness. Increase your visibility at night by carrying a flashlight and wearing light-colored or reflective clothing.
• It is safest to walk on a sidewalk, but if you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic.
• Pay attention. Always be aware of your surroundings and watch for vehicles when crossing a street or stepping off a curb.
Safety tips for motorists:
• Watch for people walking and people bicycling, obey all speed limits, avoid distraction, and know the laws regarding pedestrian right of way.
• Be prepared to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks (marked or unmarked).
• Never pass a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians.
• Slow down in areas where you are likely to find people walking, and during stormy weather when your visibility is reduced by rain or fog.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Authorities seek solutions for highway deaths
- Lake County News reports
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