Police to crack down on drivers and pedestrians this week

Laguna Beach police will monitor locations of previous collisions involving pedestrians and motorists during two traffic-safety events this week.

Officers will look for drivers who speed, make illegal turns, fail to yield to pedestrians and crosswalks, and drive through stop signs or traffic signals on March 8 and March 11, according to a news release.

But police will also watch for pedestrians who illegally cross streets or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way.

The Police Department has investigated three fatal and 63 injury collisions involving pedestrians in the last three years, the release said.

A national study revealed that pedestrians and drivers do not obey laws and signals consistently, and many often use cellphones, text and listen to music while walking or driving. Only 60% of pedestrians, who have the right of way in crosswalks, said they expected drivers to stop, the release said.

A grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety helps fund the enforcement program.