WEST HOLLYWOOD—Starting January 1, 2025, parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk or 15 feet of a curb extension in West Hollywood will result in a citation under California’s new Daylighting Law (AB 413). The new law aims to improve pedestrian visibility and reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities, especially for vulnerable groups like children.
According to a press release from the city of West Hollywood website, AB 413, also known as the Daylighting to Save Lives Bill or “Daylighting Law,” was signed into state law in October 2023 and went into effect on January 1, 2024, with a one-year grace period. The law aims to increase visibility for both pedestrians and oncoming vehicular traffic, with the goal of decreasing pedestrian injuries and deaths by adding more time for drivers and people walking to see one another better.
Due to their height, children are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to be invisible behind a parked car. The term “daylighting” refers to the practice of keeping a clear zone of a specified distance on the vehicle approach side of a crosswalk. Daylighting is considered a best practice and is a frequently used tool in cities across the nation.
Drivers in communities across the state of California, including West Hollywood, will be subject to citations for stopping, standing, or parking within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk with a curb extension (commonly referred to as a bulb-out), including T-intersections. All intersections on all approaches in California are considered to have a legal unmarked or marked crosswalk, unless marked with signage for no pedestrian crossings.
West Hollywood’s Department of Public Works is working to get the word out about AB 413 to residents, businesses, and community members with city information. The city’s Engineering division is in the process of evaluating intersections throughout West Hollywood to identify locations that warrant modifications to be consistent with the new law and some curbs will be painted red to provide clear indication for no parking zones. Drivers are advised that parking in a “daylighted” curb area in close proximity to a crosswalk or curb-crossings, whether painted red or not, is a violation subject to citation.
According to the Federal Highway Administration of the US Department of Transportation, approximately half of all traffic-related injuries occur near intersections. California’s pedestrian fatality rate is nearly 25 percent above the national average.
For more details about West Hollywood’s engineering efforts to improve pedestrian safety, including AB 413, call John Gilmour, West Hollywood City Engineer, at (323) 848-6383 or at jgilmour@weho.org. For more information about parking enforcement, call Vince Guarino, West Hollywood Parking Services Manager, at (323) 848-6426 or at vguarino@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.
By Trevor