Town Of Dedham: Dedham Police Use Grant Funding To Distribute Reflective Gear

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

03/11/2022 8:00 AM

Using funds provided through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Municipal Road Safety Program, the Dedham Police Department will be handing out reflective bands to pedestrians and bicyclists in Dedham.

In conjunction with new educational outreach and materials that promote safety on our roads, the Dedham Police Department is hoping that by providing this reflective gear, public awareness will increase, and pedestrian and bicyclist crashes will decrease. The reflective bands (shown in photo below), created to be worn on the arm or leg, are specifically designed to help to make bicyclists and pedestrians more visible to drivers.

“Over the past year, we have seen a growing number of motor vehicle crashes in Dedham that involve pedestrians or bicyclists, and some have resulted in a loss of life,” said Police Chief Michael d’Entremont. “As the Dedham Police Department, we are charged with protecting this community and as a community partner, we want to ensure residents and visitors are informed and empowered to travel safely throughout this town.”

Beginning next week, Officers from the Dedham Police Department will be visiting areas throughout Town where pedestrian and bicyclist crashes have occurred in the past, at intersections along major roadways during commuting hours where many bicyclists and pedestrians travel, and additional locations along Providence Highway, Washington Street, High Street, East Street, and Bridge Street where the greatest number of crashes generally occur. Specific dates and times will be posted on social media and on the Town website. While handing out the reflective bands, Police Officers will use this time to connect with members of the community to share life-saving safety tips and advice when traveling on and along the roadways.

“While we are handing out reflective bands to the community, we will also be posting and sharing educational materials to supplement this effort and work in tandem to create safer environments,” said Chief d’Entremont. “It is opportunities like this that enable us as a department to interact with members of the community and have conversations that may end up saving a life.”

Among the educational materials are tips for drivers when entering and exiting their vehicles on roadways, when backing out of parking spaces, and for bicyclists when they are traveling on local streets. The information will be shared on the Town website, shared via email, posted on the Dedham Police Department and Town social media pages, and posters will be secured at a number of crosswalks around Town, including Dedham Square, Washington Street, Elm Street, Providence Highway and Elm Street, Maverick Street, and more.

Subscribe to receive email notifications from the Town at www.dedham-ma.gov/subscribe and select “Public Safety” from the list of topics. Follow the Police Department and Town on social media:

Twitter: @DedhamPD and @DedhamThrives

Facebook: @DedhamThrives

Instagram: @DedhamThrives

About the Municipal Road Safety Program:

This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.