Fairfax police on bicycle safety

[Terpfan]

@ShawnoftheDread 57350 wrote:

I received this from a neighborhood listserv today. Apparently, in 56% of the bike-involved accidents this year, the cyclists were visible and did nothing wrong. They don’t want to focus on that.

From: NewsReleases-FCPD
Date: July 9, 2013, 12:19:41 PM EDT
To:
Subject: News Release: Police Stress Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety this Month
Reply-To: NewsReleases-FCPD

Fairfax County Police Department

Public Information Office
4100 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Va. 22030

703-246-2253. TTY 703-204-2264. Fax 703-246-4253

FCPD-PIO@fairfaxcounty.gov

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/news-releases/
News Release/109/LHC

July 9, 2013

Police Stress Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety this Month

The Traffic Division of the Operations Support Bureau and the Patrol Division of the Fairfax County Police Department urge motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians to be vigilant this July.

The number of cyclists involved in crashes increased from 85 in 2011 to 106 in 2012. So far in 2013, there have been 45. An 18-month study of reportable bicycle crashes shows that at least a quarter of the bicyclists were not wearing reflective clothing at the time of the crash; five bicyclists were reported to have been drinking alcohol and about 44% were performing an improper action such as: operating on the wrong side of the road, failing to maintain proper control or disregarding a stop or yield sign. Police are working with private cycling groups around the region to increase public education efforts on bicycle safety issues.

The police department reports an increase in pedestrians involved in crashes as well. There were 201 in 2012; up from 185 in 2011. So far this year, there have been 98. Police urge pedestrians to learn more about safety issues at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pedestrian/pedsafety.htm.

To learn more about bicycle safety laws, check http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/programs/bk-laws.asp.

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That’s interesting given they should know better with the various bike patrols. Maybe their PIOs don’t ever go out with the patrols.

[lordofthemark]

They are making a “roll call video ” for Fairfax County police on biking law. Was mentioned at last night’s FABB meeting.

[americancyclo]

It would be nice if they could focus on the other 99% given the numbers:

Let’s see here:
2011 Fairfax County
Total Crashes: 14,580 (bicycles are 0.5%)
Fatalities: 44
Injuries: 7,767

Alcohol Related: 903

2012 Fairfax County
Total Crashes: 14,500 (bicycles are 0.7%)
Fatalities: 45
Injuries: 8,185

Alcohol Related: 910

[mstone]

@americancyclo 61838 wrote:

It would be nice if they could focus on the other 99% given the numbers:

Let’s see here:
2011 Fairfax County
Total Crashes: 14,580 (bicycles are 0.5%)
Fatalities: 44
Injuries: 7,767

Alcohol Related: 903

2012 Fairfax County
Total Crashes: 14,500 (bicycles are 0.7%)
Fatalities: 45
Injuries: 8,185

Alcohol Related: 910

Wanna bet whether decreasing the auto accident rate through better enforcement would magically decrease the bicycle accident rate as well? It would be like a two for one deal!

[Author]

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