Lowell Police WebNews

Lowell, MA – The Lowell Police Department will receive a $7,500 grant to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety.  A $100,000 grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was made available through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for competitive grants to police departments.  Awards range from $3,000 to $7,500 based on the population size of communities.

According to theMassachusettsTrafficRecordsAnalysisCenter(MassTRAC), from 2006 to 2010, more than 1600 bicyclists and pedestrians were injured in crashes and 360 of those resulted in death.  Bicyclists and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable road users because unlike those in vehicles, there is nothing to protect them from the impact.  Over 70 percent of bicycle and pedestrian crashes involve an injury, compared to 25 percent for all motor vehicle crashes.

 “There are many techniques available to law enforcement agencies for protecting bicyclists and pedestrians on the road. With this funding, the Lowell Police Department will utilize a combination of targeted patrols and crosswalk law enforcement strategies. This will increase the number of accidents that are avoided and help ensure the safety of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians in Lowell.” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Arthur Ryan.

TheLowellpolice department, in partnership with EOPSS, recognizes that traffic crashes are preventable, and is committed to using this grant to reduce the number of motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries relating to pedestrians and bicyclists inLowell. Any death or injury on our roadways is one too many. 

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