California Daylighting Law Bans Parking Near Crosswalks

A new California law will prohibit parking near crosswalks, reports John Woolfolk in Mercury News. The law is designed to improve visibility so drivers and pedestrians can more easily see each other. “Daylighting,” as it’s called, is an increasingly popular way tool for improving pedestrian safety.

The law takes effect this year, but gives drivers a 12-month grace period before citations are issued. Cities will also have to remove parking spots that are within 20 feet of a crosswalk. The law permits parking for bikes and motorized scooters in these zones.

In some places like San Jose, drivers may have to remember the law on their own: according to a spokesman for the San Jose Department of Transportation, “This law is an unfunded mandate so, like other cities, we do not have plans to adjust or add red paint unless we have concerns about specific locations.”