In response to the July 4 accident that left two children injured and increasing community scrutiny over the safety of downtown crosswalks, Morgan Hill Police are taking a “zero tolerance” approach to traffic violations in downtown.
This means the MHPD Traffic Unit will be keeping a close watch for violations such as distracted driving, speeding, driving around the speed humps on Monterey Road just before Fourth Street, pedestrian safety and bicyclists younger than 18 wearing helmets.
Officers will no longer be giving warnings or merely trying to educate motorists—tickets will be written for traffic violations.
Furthermore, city crews painted permanent green “bike sharrow” symbols in northbound and southbound lanes on Monterey Road July 22. These markings indicate that bicyclists have the right to use the full traffic lane, and should ride in the middle of marked lane and follow all vehicle code regulations as though they were cars. Motorists should treat bicycles like cars while the pedallers are traveling in lanes marked with the sharrows.
