Police To Reward Good Drivers, Pedestrians With Gift Cards

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The City of Fredericksburg is launching a pedestrian safety campaign this week to ensure everyone has a safe and festive holiday week, including on Small Business Saturday — Nov.30 — when there is expected to be an increase in foot traffic in the city's downtown district.

Fredericksburg police officers will be downtown looking for drivers stopping at designated crosswalks and pedestrians crossing at intersections and randomly presenting them with a Downtown Gift card for following Virginia Law.

The Downtown Gift cards can be used at more than 60 shops and restaurants in the downtown district and were donated by Fredericksburg Main Street, a chapter of the National Main Street Program, an initiative originated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that focuses on the revitalization of traditional downtowns.

Fredericksburg police will not be stopping drivers by pulling behind vehicles with flashing lights to present them with the gift cards. Instead, the police will be at crosswalks and when the opportunity presents itself where it is safe for the officer and driver, the officer will present the driver with a gift card, a police spokeswoman said.

In other cities, police have faced some backlash for stopping drivers with flashing lights to reward them for good driving. Critics contend pulling drivers over for good driving behavior is unconstitutional and, despite the good intentions, can cause anxiety among drivers when they see the flashing lights.

The Fredericksburg police want to remind citizens that Virginia law requires motorists to yield the right of way to any pedestrian crossing a highway at any clearly marked crosswalk. The police department is encouraging drivers and pedestrians to remember what the police call the three C’s:

• Caution – drivers and pedestrians should use caution when approaching an intersection.
• Courtesy – drivers should be courteous to pedestrians at cross walks.
• Common Sense – everyone should practice common sense. In a collision between a 4,000-pound (or even heavier) vehicle and a 150-pound pedestrian, the pedestrian will lose to an even greater degree than others.