Deputies in San Jacinto have noticed a recent increase in traffic collisions involving children on bicycles and as pedestrians, according to the Sheriff's Department.
To address the uptick of incidents involving kids in traffic, San Jacinto deputies conducted a Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation on Nov. 6, sheriff's Sgt. Robert Himmelberg said in a statement.
"This operation targeted several behaviors endangering children in the community including drivers failing to yield to pedestrians, juveniles failing to wear helmets while riding bicycles, skateboards and scooters, and pedestrians crossing the street unsafely," Himmelberg said.
"Officers also provided traffic safety presentations to the entire student body at De Anza Elementary School. The goal of the operation was to reduce the number of traffic collisions involving children and to reduce the severity of injuries in any future collisions."
Children who were cited during the operation will be required to attend bicycle/pedestrian safety training instead of being sent to court, Himmelberg said. Seventeen citations were issued.
The San Jacinto Police Department plans to conduct similar operations in the future.
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