WILMINGTON, NC – Local area law enforcement officers will receive special training for enforcing bicycle and pedestrian safety laws as part of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Watch for Me NC campaign.
Representatives from New Hanover County, the City of Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol will attend a one-day seminar as part of the Watch for Me NC Campaign. The training course will include classroom instruction and field exercises for the officers, who will learn and practice various tactical operations to promote pedestrian and motorist safety. The training sessions are intended to support officers in enhancing their local efforts at ensuring area drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians are following state laws.
The training is being led by Brian Massengill, a sergeant with the Durham Police Department. Sgt. Massengill has more than a dozen years’ experience as a law enforcement officer and is certified by the Law Enforcement Bicycle Association.
Local media is invited to attend the Pedestrian Crosswalk Enforcement Effort.
WHAT: Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Training
WHEN: 2:00 PM Wednesday August 6, 2014
WHERE: Cape Fear Community College, Union Station Building
CONTACT:
Karyn Crichton, AICP
Long Range Planner, New Hanover County
910-798-7085
James Gallagher
UNC Highway Safety Research Center
919-843-7007 (office)
919-308-0738 (cell)
About:
New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington rank in the top ten for bicycle and pedestrian crashes statewide. To reduce those numbers, New Hanover County, the City of Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol applied for assistance from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the UNC Highway Research Center through their Watch for Me NC safety campaign. New Hanover County is one of thirteen communities statewide selected to be a Watch for Me NC partner.
The Watch for Me NC campaign is a comprehensive approach to reduce bicycle and pedestrian crashes and fatalities in North Carolina. The campaign utilizes multi-media strategies including bus backs, electronic billboards, print media, radio and TV PSAs to educate motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, and provides resources to law enforcement efforts.
The campaign kicks-off in August and runs through December with several events including:
Quick Facts about New Hanover County Pedestrian and Bicycle Crashes by Type 1997 – 2012:
Pedestrian Crashes
Bicycle Crashes
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Release Contact:
Karyn Crichton, AICP
Long Range Planner, New Hanover County
910-798-7085