The San Mateo Police Department warned drivers and pedestrians to stay alert in September after 1,090 people were struck and killed while walking on California roads in 2024.

The department issued the advisory Tuesday, Sept. 8, marking September as Pedestrian Safety Month. The statewide death toll accounted for 28% of all California traffic fatalities that year, according to the release. The campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The advisory follows a fatal pedestrian crash on the same corridor earlier in 2026. A pedestrian was struck and killed at South El Camino Real and 17th Avenue on Jan. 23, the Mercury News reported.

Caltrans responded. The agency reprogrammed the traffic signal at that intersection on June 1 to add an exclusive east-west pedestrian phase, fully separating walkers from vehicle movements, according to the city's transportation safety page. The city said on X that day the new timing would mean longer wait times but called the safety tradeoff worthwhile.

The city has allocated more than $40 million to pedestrian and bicycle safety projects, according to the same transportation page. The police department's 2026–2031 Strategic Plan, published July 31, lists improving traffic and pedestrian safety as one of four goals over the next five years.

The advisory states that pedestrians lack the protections vehicle occupants have. It also notes that higher speeds increase the severity of crashes involving people on foot.

The advisory offers five tips for drivers: obey the speed limit, slow down at intersections, never drive impaired, avoid distractions like phones, and use extra caution at night or in poor weather. Drivers should be prepared to stop at both marked and unmarked crosswalks.

For pedestrians, the department recommends using marked crosswalks, walking on sidewalks or facing traffic where none exist, and making eye contact with drivers before crossing. Wearing bright or reflective clothing at night and avoiding headphones while crossing can also help, the advisory said.

No specific enforcement operations were announced as part of the September campaign. The state's Go Safely California website has additional traffic safety resources.