On August 23, 2022, the city proclaimed a local emergency for traffic safety, which was ratified by the City Council on August 30. With this emergency proclamation in place, we have activated our Emergency Operations Center and redeployed resources to bring focused attention on making sure everyone feels safe on our streets, whether walking, biking or driving. I encourage you to learn more about this state of emergency on the city’s website, www.carlsbadca.gov/saferstreets.
Every member of Team Carlsbad plays an important role in keeping our community safe. During this emergency, we are asking all employees, and especially those whose jobs require them to drive on our streets, to demonstrate and promote safe driving practices.
Driving habits for safer streets
Buckle Up! Ensure everyone’s safety belts are fastened – including yours -- before starting your vehicle.
Always keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.
Follow speed limits. It’s unsafe to drive too fast or too slow.
Keep enough distance between you and the car in front of you to avoid rear-end collisions.
Allow plenty of time to get to your destination.
Eliminate distractions like eating, drinking, texting and talking on the phone.
Drive defensively and remain vigilant to situations requiring quick action.
Avoid driving aggressively.
Follow all rules of the road. Come to a complete stop at stop signs and pay attention at intersections.
Watch for cyclists in bike lanes and on the roadway.
When turning, look both ways and ensure oncoming lanes are clear.
Be kind and patient.
Please see Additional Driving Laws specific to California for more information.
We appreciate all that you do and thank you for supporting the city’s efforts to ensure everyone shares the road and shares the responsibility for safer streets.
Please be aware that beginning next year, all employees authorized to drive or operate any city vehicle must complete distracted driver training annually to comply with the city’s insurance carrier requirements