Chief’s Column: Grafton Police receive bike and pedestrian safety grant

The Grafton Police Department is pleased to announce that we were recently awarded a grant of $6,000 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Office of Grants and Research – Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/OGR/HSD) to improve safety on town roads for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Under the grant, the department will deploy extra patrols specifically geared toward traffic enforcement and increasing compliance with traffic laws by all motorists. The grant also allows departments to purchase educational materials, bicycle helmets and safety items to help enhance pedestrian and bicyclist visibility at night. More information on potential giveaways and educational materials will be announced shortly.

With close to 6,000 pedestrians killed in 2016 across the country, pedestrians now account for a larger proportion (16 percent) of traffic fatalities than they have in the past 33 years. The following Massachusetts data demonstrates the need for these programs.

Data and Trends from 2014-2018 in Massachusetts

• There were 381 pedestrian fatalities.
• Adults aged 55+ accounted for 50% of all pedestrian fatalities. Pedestrians under age 25 accounted for 15% of all pedestrian fatalities.
• 60% of pedestrian fatalities took place between the hours of 3 PM – 11:59 PM. The time frame of 6 PM – 8:59 PM had the highest percentage, with 23% of pedestrian fatalities.
• There were 46 bicyclist fatalities.
• Nearly 40% of bicyclist fatalities were between the ages of 45 and 64. Bicyclists under the age of 25 accounted for 22% of deaths.
• Bicyclist fatalities occurred more frequently (48%) between the hours of 12 PM and 5:59 PM.

Bicyclists are dying at higher rates nationally as well — the 840 killed in traffic crashes in 2016 are the most since 1991. Visibility is a major concern for bicyclists who may not always be easily seen by motorists, and unlike those driving motor vehicles, there is nothing to protect bicyclists during a crash. We are also analyzing crash reports and previous enforcement data to identify potential crosswalks, intersections and roads where additional efforts will yield the largest impact on overall safety.

We are grateful to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for this grant and for the opportunity to expand our traffic safety campaigns. EOPSS/OGR/HSD gave nearly $700,000 in grants to police departments across the Commonwealth during this mobilization and is the state administering agency for traffic safety grants with funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Normand A. Crepeau, Jr.

Chief of Police