Fort Lee Police Launch "Be Seen, Be Safe” Pedestrian Safety Campaign

Police Chief Keith Bendul wants to get to "zero" struck pedestrians in Fort Lee. In order to help the borough reach that goal the Fort Lee Police Department, with the full support of the Mayor and Council, have launched the “Be Seen, Be Safe” Pedestrian Safety Campaign. 

Mayor Mark Sokolich joined Bendul early Thursday morning to initiate the program on Palisade Avenue and Horizon Road. Together they and police officer Anthony Kim handed out safety information, car ice scrapers, florescent umbrellas, clip on reflectors and more to drivers and pedestrians. Confiscated drug funds were used to purchase these items.

According to Bendul, in the first two months of 2013 there have been 12 struck pedestrians including one fatality. In March of 2012, the police department launched a borough-wide enforcement campaign due to the number of fatalities among struck pedestrians.

Since 2012, summonses have been issued to either the driver or the pedestrian if they violated a motor vehicle statute during the collision. Bedul said that the results of the 2012 program will be analyzed and be incorporated into the “Be Seen, Be Safe” campaign.  

Since taking the helm of Chief in January, Bendul has made raising awareness through education a priority by speaking to senior residents and buildings about pedestrian safety.

The police department has purchased red flashing reflector lights using confiscated drug funds. Pedestrians can clip the light on to their jacket, backpack, purse or briefcase. The intent is to increase the visibility of pedestrians to drivers. The lights will be distributed during each presentation. They will also be available to residents by visiting the police station 24 hours a day. Officers will also be handing them out to pedestrians around town. The Police Department has also purchased metal tube whistles which residents can carry for safety.

In addition “See for Safety” ice scrapers will be distributed in an effort to remind driver 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.

Det. Buda, the Elementary School Resource Officer, will be conducting safety seminars with school children. The young children will be receiving lights, blue rulers, and safety coloring books, compliments of the Fort Lee Police department.  

The Patrol Division will continue to enforce the law by stopping pedestrians for jaywalking. Summonses may be issued. In lieu of a summons, a pedestrian pamphlet and or a safety reflector may be given to the pedestrian. 

Bendul said that the department will conduct decoy pedestrian details throughout town where an officer in plain clothes will cross the street. Drivers that violate the statute by failing to stop for the pedestrian in the crosswalk with be stopped and summonses by officers down the block. Individual officers in marked patrol cars, stealth cars and unmarked cars are employed in various traffic enforcement details 24/7/365.

The Fort Lee Police Department is working in conjunction with the Department of Public Works, and surveying all the Stop signs, Pedestrian Crosswalk signs, and painted crosswalks in town, Bendul said. The locations are being reviewed and compared to the collision data in an effort to identify methods to increase visibility of the signs and crosswalks.

Bendul said that in 2012 the two departments successfully worked together on a pilot program where crosswalks were illuminated with flashing lights.

"An expansion of this program may be implemented once the winter weather is behind us and the devices can be installed," Bendul said. 

With the support of the Mayor and Council, the two departments are examining installing reflective sign post covers on specific stop sign posts and pedestrian sign posts in areas where there is a volume of pedestrians or a high number of collisions. 

Bendul emphasizes that safety is a top priority for the Fort Lee Police Department. Every uniformed officer is assigned a pedestrian detail or a traffic enforcement assignment on each shift.

Committed to spreading the message about pedestrian safety, Bendul has organized these upcoming Pedestrian Safety Seminars:

• 475 Main Street March 20th 11:30 am (building residents only)
• Fort Lee Senior Center April 10th 10:30 am (FL Seniors only)

Bendul reported that the Fort Lee Police Department will be holding a Pedestrian Safety Seminar for all residents, regardless of age, at the Fort Lee Community Center on March 27 at 7 p.m. Residents are encouraged to attend to hear life saving tips.