California law to increase visibility and improve safety

California's new ‘daylighting’ law to increase visibility at intersections and improve safety

As of Jan. 1, 2025, it is illegal to park a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk (marked or unmarked) or within 15 feet of a crosswalk with a curb extension or bulb-out. Parking in these areas is illegal statewide regardless of whether the curb is painted red. The law aims to enhance safety by improving visibility at intersections.

This law applies only on the approach side of the road (see visual on this page) leading to the crosswalk. Vehicles parking at any intersection or mid-block crossing where the new law prohibits parking will be in violation of State law. The Palo Alto Police Department is handling enforcement as community reports are shared, with education as the primary focus and warning citations issued initially as of August 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.

What You’ll See in Palo Alto

To comply with Assembly Bill (AB) 413, the City of Palo Alto is responding in a phased approach.

The community may see changes in the following ways:

• Some new curb markings near specific crosswalks, with priority focus on high risk pedestrian and vehicle collision locations, bike boulevards, school zones, and commercial districts
• Possibly new signage in areas where parking may change
• Limited parking spaces removed in select areas, notably commercial districts
• Initial changes will focus on highest risk of pedestrian and vehicle collisions, and explore changes based on site-specific situations rather than deploying universally. Safety improvements to reduce vehicle speeds and improve visibility improvements may include additional no parking curb paint, bike corrals, flexible posts, and sidewalk extensions.
• Public education and warning citations as of August 1, 2025 through January 1, 2026, with initial focus in the Downtown and Cal Ave. districts

Community Assistance

• Drivers can play a major role in the City’s efforts by yielding to pedestrians and parking at least 20 feet from the approach side (see visual on this website) of an intersection.
• Take note of these new restrictions, avoid parking in these restricted areas, and help share details with your neighbors.
• Parking in these areas is illegal statewide regardless of whether the curb is painted red.

Intersection Evaluation 

Safety improvements at specific intersections will be evaluated throughout the year. Office of Transportation staff are prioritizing crossing locations for potential changes and enforcement emphasis, with evaluation based on locations with injury collision history along pedestrian and bicycle corridors included in the newly adopted Safe Streets for All Action Plan. Many of these are in the Downtown and locations that overlap with City Safe Routes to School routes will receive additional priority in staff’s evaluation. 

Preliminary priority evaluations are planned at the following intersections: 

• Lytton at Bryant
• Lytton at High
• Lytton at Cowper
• University at Cowper 
• University at Bryant