By Town Crier Staff Report

Los Altos Police reminded downtown motorists to drive more cautiously last week during an aggressive traffic crackdown that resulted in as many as 11 citations in one hour, according to police.

Apparently recent merchant complaints about reckless drivers prompted police to patrol the street on foot looking for illegal left and U-turns and crosswalk violations.

“One of the problems we have is vehicles not stopping for pedestrians in the crosswalk and pedestrians just blazing right out into ongoing traffic,” Sgt. John Hughmanick said.

Pedestrians are required by law to stop and wait until the street is clear before proceeding, Hughmanick said.

Santa Clara County has one of the state’s highest pedestrian accident rates, according to police statistics.

Crosswalk safety has been such a problem in recent years that the California Highway Patrol launched a regional stakeout in 2000 to promote pedestrian safety in Peninsula cities.

Most of last week’s citations were for illegal turns. Turning left across a double-yellow line to enter a parking space is illegal in downtown Los Altos.

Such turns are a violation of the municipal code and not considered a moving violation.