PUBLIC SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
BREVARD COUNTY • WEST MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Brevard County ranks in the top 25 counties in Florida for traffic crashes resulting in serious and fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists.
To help reverse this trend, the West Melbourne Police Department is participating in the Florida Department of Transportation High Visibility Enforcement Program aimed at educating motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians on Florida’s traffic laws to improve safety on the City of West Melbourne roads.
Starting this month through May 2023, West Melbourne Police Department will have additional officers on patrol at specific corridors with a high occurrence of pedestrians and bicyclists’ crashes.
Special attention will be directed towards increasing awareness of the dangerous behaviors that are contributing to serious and fatal injuries at these locations.
Officers will look for drivers speeding, failing to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, conducting improper turns or signal violations, and using hand-held devices while driving.
Officers also will watch for pedestrians who cross the street illegally or fail to yield to motorists who have right-of-way.
Bicyclists will be stopped for riding against traffic, riding at night without lights or not abiding by the same laws as motor vehicles. Officers will issue warnings and citations only when appropriate.
“Road safety not only applies to motorists, it also applies to pedestrians and bicyclists as well”, said Commander Michelle Page who is overseeing this year’s HVE Program. “Ensuring everyone arrives at their intended destination safely, starts with understanding the rules of the road.”
Funding for this program is provided through a contract with the University of North Florida’s Institute of Police Technology and Management funded by the Florida Department of Transportation.
West Melbourne Police Department will receive funds for overtime hours for officers to conduct operations and for special training on Florida’s bicycle and pedestrian laws, procedures, and best practices.
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