Police Plan Traffic Safety Blitz for Back-To-School Week

The Leesburg Police Department will be conducting a traffic safety campaign to coincide with the start of the new 2014-2015 school year.

In 2013, The Leesburg Town Council passed a resolution calling on all motorists and pedestrians to join the Town Council and the Town of Leesburg Government in making traffic safety a priority on our community. The Safe Streets Initiative encompasses both Educational and an Enforcement campaign’s with a goal of making the streets in Leesburg safer for motorists and pedestrians.

The Educational phase of the initiative involves a singular focused message that the Town of Leesburg is a safe driving community and that a central focus of the entire Leesburg government is the safe and efficient flow of traffic throughout our community. Electronic Message boards will be deployed at different locations throughout Town to reinforce safe driving behaviors and remind motorists that school is back in session and to watch for children.

The Enforcement phase of the initiative will be conducted during the week of September 2, 2014. Leesburg Police officers, with the assistance of the Virginia State Police will be out in force in and around schools during the first week conducting a “Traffic Safety Blitz”. The goal of this “Blitz” is to reduce the number of traffic crashes occurring both in and around schools as well as Town wide. High visibility patrols will be utilized conducting traffic enforcement operations. Specific emphasis will be placed on speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, stop light/sign violations, occupant protection, and pedestrian violations.

During the remainder of the year, the department will target “hotspot” areas based on statistical analysis with a goal of achieving a reduction in both personal injury and property damage crashes.

With the cooperation and assistance of the citizens of the Town of Leesburg, the Leesburg Police Department’s Safe Streets Initiative will make a positive impact in the community with the overall goal of motorist and pedestrian safety.