Let's be Safer Together, Carlsbad!

The City of Carlsbad uses the three Es of traffic safety -- education, engineering and enforcement -- to help ensure everyone uses local streets safely. Thanks to your support, it's working! Please continue to look out for one another, follow our safety tips and share your commitment publicly so others will do the same.

New e-bike laws

New e-bike laws are now in effect in Carlsbad. Here is what to expect: 

  • Anyone operating an e-bike must be at least 12 years old, as allowed by Assembly Bill 2234.
  • When a minor breaks the rules and creates an immediate or substantial public safety risk, their e-bike may be impounded. The minor must complete an in-person safety course to retrieve the e-bike, and a parent or guardian must be present when the e-bike is released. 
  • The Police Department can also impound e-motorcycles, which are not street legal. 
  • E-bikes are prohibited at Poinsettia and Pine Avenue Community Parks. 

Additionally, the city's previously existing laws have been updated to provide additional clarity on safe riding behavior, including:

  • Riders must go at a safe speed for the conditions, factoring in weather, whether pedestrians are present and how quickly other traffic is moving.
  • Riders under 18 years old must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet.
  • Only e-bikes designed for passengers can carry more than one rider.

  • Parents are responsible for knowingly allowing their children to commit violations. 

E-bike chart with e-motorcycles

More information

E-bike laws overview
View the new ordinance  
Watch a recording of the City Council meeting 

Safety classes

Several organizations off bike and e-bike safety courses online: 

Speeding catches up with you

Post Date:07/10/2026

This July and beyond, the City of Carlsbad Police Department encourages drivers to follow the speed limit and “slow the fast down.”

During the month of July, the Carlsbad Police Department has additional officers on patrol looking for drivers who are speeding or driving too fast for conditions.

Speeding remains a leading factor in deadly crashes and is consistently the top safety concern among surveyed California drivers, according to the 2025 California Traffic Safety Survey. Even small increases in speed reduce the time drivers have to react and significantly increases the force of a crash. Slowing down is a simple, effective way to prevent tragedies on our roads.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11,288 people died from speeding-related crashes in the U.S. in 2024, accounting for 29% of all traffic fatalities that year. In California alone, 1,139 people were killed in speeding-related crashes in 2024.

“Speeding is dangerous and puts everyone at risk,” Sgt. Conrad Page-DeMorst said. “Your daily choice to drive within the speed limit protects everyone in our community. Risky driving behaviors like speeding continue to cause preventable tragedies on California roads.”

Drivers can take simple steps to prevent speeding:

  • Plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
  • Follow posted speed limits, especially in school and work zones.
  • Drive at a speed that is safe for the conditions around you. Adjust your speed for changing weather, traffic and road conditions.
  • Avoid aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating or weaving through traffic.

Crashes have severe and lasting consequences, and slowing down is one of the most important actions you can take to keep everyone using roads safe. By taking precautions and driving at safe speeds, we can make sure everyone in the community reaches their destination safely.

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