WPBN: On January 1, 2025, a comprehensive new law that aims to improve intersection visibility and save lives will go into force throughout California.
Assembly Bill 413, sometimes known as the “daylighting” bill, is a piece of legislation that forbids parking within 20 feet of any crosswalk, whether it is marked or not, at intersections in an effort to increase safety. It is anticipated that this action will greatly increase driver visibility, which will lower the risk of collisions involving pedestrians and other road users.
The parking limit is universally applicable at all junctions in the state of California under the terms of AB 413. The existence of posted “no parking” signs or red curbs is not necessary.
The goal of the law is to give vehicles a clear view at crossings so they may more easily see bicycles, skateboarders, pedestrians, and other people who could be crossing the roadway or passing through the intersection.
The idea of “daylighting,” as traffic safety experts refer to it, is to remove visual impediments close to crosswalks so that vehicles have a clear line of sight.
By doing this, the law aims to avoid fatalities and lower the amount of collisions involving pedestrians. Research from areas with comparable laws has demonstrated that improved visibility at crosswalks significantly lowers the number of pedestrian-related accidents.
To give drivers time to get used to the new regulations, AB 413 will be implemented with a grace period. To inform the public about the change, police will give warnings rather than penalties during the first sixty days of enforcement.
The last day of this grace period is February 29, 2025. Those who break the new law will start receiving citations from law enforcement on March 1, 2025.
After the enforcement period, drivers who are caught parking within 20 feet of a crossing, whether it is marked or not, will be fined. The state requires an additional $12.50 administration charge in addition to the $65.00 basic fine for a violation. The total cost of a violation now stands at $77.50.
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It is intended that the fine will act as a disincentive to keep drivers from parking in forbidden zones and guarantee that the rule is followed.
The typical length of a car in the US is about 14 feet, so that helps put the parking restriction into perspective. This means that in order to comply with the new law’s 20-foot parking limit, cars must leave a distance of approximately 1.5 car lengths near intersections.
California has joined the majority of states in the United States in enacting daylighting legislation. Similar laws that limit parking within 20 feet of junctions are currently in place in 43 other states.
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By lowering the number of collisions involving pedestrians, these policies have been successful in increasing road safety. The enactment of AB 413 in California addresses a prevalent issue in intersection-related accidents—limited vision for drivers—and marks a big step toward safer streets and communities.
The state’s dedication to lowering pedestrian fatalities and injuries while promoting safer travel conditions for all users of the road is reflected in the new law.
To guarantee compliance and promote a safer driving environment, drivers are urged to become acquainted with the new regulations and modify their parking practices accordingly.
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