By Jorge Casuso
March 13, 2026 -- The Santa Monica Police Department is conducting another traffic safety operation today as it boosts enforcement to crack down on dangerous driving.
The operation -- which takes place from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- focuses on "the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk," police officials said.
The violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.
"Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have," police officials said. "We should all be looking out for one another."
In recent months, the Department has tripled the number of operations it conducts after the Council in January of last year began taking steps "to prioritize the deterrence of dangerous driving within Santa Monica that poses an immediate threat to the safety of residents."
The number of Fatal and Severe Injury (FSI) crashes in Santa Monica fell in 2025 after soaring to a record high the previous year, according to Transportation Department data ("Fatal, Severe Injury Crashes Fall," March 6, 2026).
While the 52 FSI crashes are still the second-highest number recorded over the past 15 years, they reverse a four-year trend that saw crashes that resulted in severe injuries or deaths rise to 62 in 2024.
The FSI crashes last year resulted in three deaths, all of them pedestrians, marking a drop from the 5 deaths in 2024 -- 3 pedestrians and 2 bicyclists, according to data provided by the City.
Of last year's crashes resulting in severe injuries, 19 involved pedestrians, 5 involved bicyclists and 3 involved scooters. The other 23 severe injury crashes involved only motorists.
Motorists were deemed to be at fault in 40 of the 52 FSI crashes last year, or 77.4 percent, according to the data.
During the week of February 8, the latest data available, police made 298 traffic stops, gave 155 citation and 93 advisals, and conducted 9 investigations.
"Traffic personnel conducted sustained citywide enforcement focused on school zones, Downtown Santa Monica, Pacific Coast Highway, and other high-collision corridors," police officials said.
"High-visibility operations focused on speed violations, distracted driving, equipment violations, and DUI offenses, with enforcement efforts aligned to areas generating community concern and collision trends."