Fort Lee Police Hosting Pedestrian Safety Seminar at Community Center Wednesday

As part of their "Be Seen, Be Safe" pedestrian safety campaign, the Fort Lee Police Department is hosting a Pedestrian Safety Seminar for all residents, regardless of age, at the Fort Lee Community Center on Wednesday, March 27 at 7p.m.

"I encourage all residents to attend to hear life saving tips," Chief of Police Keith Bendul said.

This seminar is one in a series of seminars that the police department is bringing to the community to help raise awareness and promote pedestrian safety. Community Policing Officer Anthony Kim and Traffic Bureau Officer Michael Bialoblocki conducted two seminars in January and March at the Fort Lee Senior Center designed to increase the safety of senior residents by educating them on how to remain aware of their surroundings while walking. A pedestrian safety seminar was also conducted by Chief Bendul and Traffic Supervisor Ricky Mirkovic last month for the residents of Century Tower on Parker Avenue.

Pedestrian safety has become a top initiative for the Fort Lee Police Department since early 2012 when the number of accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians began to rise significantly. According to Bendul, 12 pedestrians have been struck in the first two months of 2013, including one fatality.

During Wednesday's presentation, the police department will be distributing red flashing reflector lights pedestrians can use to clip onto clothing to raise visibility to drivers. “See for Safety” ice scrapers will also be distributed in an effort to remind drivers to comply with the law by removing snow and ice from the car before driving.

"Limited vision increases the risk of the driver striking a pedestrian or another car," Bendul said.

The items being distributed by the Fort Lee Police Department come at no cost to the taxpayers, Bendul said. They were purchased with confiscated drug funds.

Since 2012, the police department has launched a borough-wide enforcement campaign in response to the number of pedestrians who were fatally struck. Bendul reported that since early 2012, summonses have been issued to either the driver or the pedestrian if they violated a motor vehicle statute during the collision. The results of the 2012 program will be analyzed and incorporated into the “Be Seen, Be Safe” campaign.  

The Fort Lee Community Center is located at 1355 Inwood Terrace.

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