Del Mar residents can learn defensive walking techniques and traffic safety rules at a free workshop on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Del Mar Civic Center Town Hall, 1050 Camino del Mar.

The one-hour session starts at 4:30 p.m. CHP Officer Jared Grieshaber will lead the TREDWise workshop, covering how to recognize personal risk factors, stay alert to common hazards and navigate streets more safely.

The City of Del Mar and Del Mar Community Connections are co-hosting the event. Registration is required through the city's event calendar.

What TREDWise covers

The TREDWise program was developed by the Transportation Research and Education for Driving Safety Center, known as TREDS, at UC San Diego. The center brings together researchers in public health, medical engineering, law enforcement and neuroscience, according to the city's announcement.

The session will cover four areas: dangers pedestrians face, traffic rules for walking, defensive walking strategies and personal risk factors. Trained CHP officers deliver the in-person presentations statewide through a partnership with TREDS.

Pedestrian safety by the numbers

Pedestrian distraction is rising nationally. The Governors Highway Safety Association projected that drivers struck and killed 6,732 people walking in the United States in 2025. That figure was down 7% from the prior year but remained 5% above pre-pandemic levels.

Pedestrian distraction was cited in 29.2% of fatal crashes in 2024, nearly double the 15.3% rate in 2019, according to the association's data.

More than three-quarters of pedestrian fatalities occurred after dark.

The workshop is free. Residents can register through the city's online calendar.