The City of Temecula Public Works Department receives complaints about vehicular speeding on nearly every residential street in the City. The City can respond by providing speed limit signs and 
enforcement. But what can the residents do to help keep their neighborhoods as safe as possible?
Local streets with residential driveway access in medium to high-density communities have an enforceable prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour. Vehicular speeds sampled on these streets indicate that most vehicles travel between 28 and 32 miles per hour. Some motorists travel faster! Teenagers and commuters are not the only ones who exceed the speed limit. In fact, studies have shown that residents who are familiar with the roadway characteristics and feel comfortable driving on them, exceed the speed limit often. Typically, these are residents that are late for work, in a hurry to pick up their children, or anxious to get home.
Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections, whether there is a marked crosswalk or not. Remember that young pedestrians do not fully understand the life and death issues associated with vehicle impacts.
Use arterial streets for the main portion of your trip and avoid taking “short-cuts”. Residential streets may appear to be convenient “short-cuts”, but will not save overall travel time if you stay within the 25 MPH speed limit. Arterial streets are designed to carry more vehicles at higher speeds than residential streets. Additionally, travel on arterial streets is less likely to be interrupted by unexpected vehicles backing in and out of driveways or children crossing the street. To shorten driving times, choose routes that allow you to make efficient use of arterial streets and minimizes your travel on residential streets. If you must travel on residential streets to access arterial streets, “be a courteous neighbor and drive 25”. Remember that you would not want your neighbors to speed in front of your house.
As A Parent
Set a good example for your children. Children learn by watching and imitating. Your actions as a driver, pedestrian and bicyclist speak louder than your words of caution. So set a good example.
Do not allow your children to play in the street. Instead encourage them to use their own yard, a nearby park, or a school playground for their games and activities. Caution children not to dart into the street in pursuit of a pet, ball or loose skateboard. Remind them to stop at the curb and enter the street only when it is safe to do so. Remember streets were designed for vehicular travel not as a playground.
Caution children to stay alert while crossing any street. Although vehicles are supposed to stop for pedestrians crossing the street, some drivers are in a hurry or are careless and fail to do so. Painted crosswalks cannot protect pedestrians from these drivers, but caution can. Tell children to cross the street quickly and to continue watching and listening for vehicles until they are safely on the curb at the other side. Remember, before you cross the street:
• Stop, look and listen
• Use your eyes
• Use your ears
• And then use your feet
Supervise your children’s trips to and from school. Plan a direct route to and from school. Look for routes that minimize the need to cross streets. Walk with your child and point out places where they need to be especially careful. Younger children may have difficulty judging speeds and distances, and should be accompanied until they can gain experience.
Walk to school when you can. Driving your children to school only increases the traffic congestion around schools. If you must drive, try to carpool and remember:
• Obey the rules of the road observe the speed limit
• Do not double park at the school or let children out in the middle of the street.
• Make sure that your child enters and exits the vehicle on the curb side only
• Watch for bicyclists and pedestrians
As A Bicyclist
Encourage safe cycling. This healthful, fun activity can also be an excellent transportation alternative.
Choose bike routes carefully. For novice riders, select routes with light vehicular traffic, marked bike lanes and not steep hills or sudden stops. Suggest that young riders walk their bicycles across the street at signalized intersections. When doing so, they should push the button and use the crosswalk just like pedestrians.
Select a bike that is the right size. Don’t buy a bicycle to be “grown into”. Oversized bikes are hard for kids to control and may result in an increased number of falls. When shopping for a bicycle, take your child along. Make certain that the child can stand solidly on the ground with the bike between their legs.
Wear a helmet. Under State Law, all persons under 18 years of age are required to wear helmets when riding bicycles. Teach your children to wear helmets by wearing one yourself. Select a helmet that:
• Covers the forehead and does not slide forward or backward
• Rests level on the head and does not rock from side to side
• Does interfere with vision or hearing
• Fits snugly when the strap is fastened
• Feels comfortable
• Bears an ANSI or Snell safety approved label
Obey the rules of the road. Bicycles are vehicles. Bicyclists must know and obey the California Vehicle Code.
1. When traveling on streets, ride in the same direction as traffic.
2. Know and use hand signals to warn other drivers of your intent to turn or stop.
3. Do not wear headsets or earplugs, which may interfere with your ability to hear horns, sirens, or other sounds that warn of approaching vehicles or other dangers.
4. Do not attach yourself by hand, rope, or other device to another moving vehicle.
5. Do not carry a passenger unless that person weighs less than 40 pounds and rides in a special seat attached to the bicycle. Additional weight makes it difficult to balance and maneuver safely in traffic.
As A Pedestrian
If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the roadway, facing traffic. Watch for oncoming traffic and be prepared to move out of the path of any vehicle whose driver appears not to have noticed you.
Cross streets only at corners. Motorists are more likely to expect you to cross at an intersection. Crosswalks exist at all intersections even if it is not painted or marked.
If a painted or marked crosswalk exists, use it. But remember that painted or marked crosswalks cannot protect pedestrians from careless drivers. Walk quickly and continue to watch for vehicles as you cross.
At signalized intersections, push the button for the WALK (MAN) symbol and start crossing only when the symbol appears. When the DON”T WALK (HAND) symbol begins to flash, finish crossing the street. Do not step off the curb while the DON”T WALK (HAND) symbol is flashing. Instead push the button and wait until the WALK (MAN) symbol re appears. You will only receive the WALK (MAN) symbol when conflicting vehicle indications have properly concluded, so please be patient.
As A Resident
Get involved. Be aware of road conditions, traffic patterns and alternate routes. Obey the rules of the road as a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorist. Because the driver determines the speed of the vehicle, everyone can make a contribution to neighborhood safety.
Discuss with your neighbors safe ways to drive and safe places for children to play so that they are not in the roadway. Notice when roadway conditions create problems for motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians. Think about ways that these conditions might be changed.
VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON A SCHOOL OR NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Contact the City’s Public Works Department. Report damaged sidewalks and streets, and obscured or missing signs to the Maintenance Division. Report traffic concerns to the Traffic Division. You may also contact a member of our Public/Traffic Safety Commission through the Public Works Department or the City’s Web Page. The Public/Traffic Safety Commission meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at 6:00 PM at City Hall located at 43200 Business Park Drive. City staff, as well as Commission members, is here to assist you in addressing your concerns and finding solutions to make your community a safer place to live, work, walk, ride and play.