With thousands of freshly painted red curbs, Berkeley implements law that bans parking next to intersections

"Crews have been painting thousands of sections of curb red to prohibit parking directly next to intersections, where stopped cars can make it harder for approaching drivers to see pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists. The vast majority of serious and fatal traffic collisions in Berkeley happen at intersections, so officials hope that by improving sightlines they can drive down the number of crashes."

"A 2023 state law prohibited drivers from parking within the 20 feet of curb space approaching an intersection, a practice known in traffic safety circles as daylighting the corners. But the law didn't come with any funding to mark those spaces off-limits, leaving it up to cities and other local governments to pay for the work out of their own budgets."

"Berkeley has become one of the first cities in California to finish painting its curbs to comply with the law, City Manager Paul Buddenhagen wrote in a memo this week, after public works staff and a contractor applied the treatment at nearly all intersections throughout the city."

Berkeley finished a street safety initiative requiring red paint on curbs within 20 feet of intersections to prevent parking in these zones, known as daylighting corners. This practice improves visibility for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists at intersections where most serious and fatal traffic collisions occur. A 2023 state law mandated this prohibition but provided no funding, requiring cities to finance the work independently. Berkeley's public works crews and contractors painted thousands of curb sections across the city over more than a year. The completion ceremony marked a significant achievement, as many California cities lack the resources to implement the requirement. Oakland officials cited insufficient staff and funding as barriers to compliance.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org