Every October, Pedestrian Safety Month is recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pedestrian Safety Month highlights the importance of keeping people who walk, bike, or take transit safe. This is a crucial reminder for drivers in San José to slow down and share the road with pedestrians.

Also happening later this fall, on Sunday, November 2, is the end of daylight saving time. More traffic fatalities and severe injuries occur after daylight saving time ends because it’s darker during commute hours.

To keep pedestrians safe and to prevent traffic crashes as days grow shorter, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is deploying several electronic message boards across San José this fall and winter. These boards contain messages that remind drivers to be aware of people walking, riding bikes, or taking transit. The first round of message boards are being deployed at the beginning of October and will be stationed throughout the rest of fall. They will urge drivers to slow down and stay alert at locations along:

• Hillsdale Avenue
• Branham Lane
• Snell Avenue
• Monterey Road
• The Alameda
• Ocala Avenue

DOT has provided the locations of the message boards to the San Jose Police Department so they can focus their traffic patrols. To learn more about our Vision Zero initiative,  please visit our Vision Zero webpage.

Slow down, put your cell phone and other distractions away, and look out when it’s dark out!

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