The new California “daylighting” law prohibits parking within 20 feet of any crosswalk, marked or not.

The city of San Diego will begin enforcing a statewide law Jan 1 aimed at improving pedestrian safety.

California Assembly Bill 413, approved and enacted by lawmakers in fall 2023, outlaws stopping or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present. 

Called “daylighting” for allowing better visibility for drivers so they can see pedestrians and others entering the roadway, the law applies to any intersection with a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Currently, jurisdictions can only issue a warning for a violation and are prohibited from issuing citations, unless the violation occurs in an area marked using paint or a sign.

On Jan 1, the city may begin issuing citations under the California Vehicle Code; a 60-day grace period will be in effect from Jan 1 through March 1.

Citations are applicable even if there is no signage or red curb in the area explaining where parking is prohibited.

The city will be painting some curbs red in densely populated and urban areas to indicate the 20-foot buffer zone, according to a press release. 

According to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately half of all traffic-related injuries occur near intersections. In 2020 there were 1,674 pedestrian fatalities at intersections in the US; California’s pedestrian fatality rate is nearly 25 percent higher than the national average.

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