Greenville is part of awareness efforts
GREENVILLE — The N.C. Department of Transportation is
kicking off its 2018 Watch for Me NC advertising campaign on July 2 to promote
pedestrian and bicycle safety in the coastal region.
Last year, 201 pedestrians and 30 bicyclists were killed on North
Carolina roadways.
Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists will see and hear safety
messages that will better educate them on relevant laws and safe behaviors.
- In busy tourist areas along the coast, sidewalk stencils – which
clean concrete so a message is visible – will remind pedestrians and bicyclists
to watch for cars at intersections. Additionally, these safety tips will be
heard on Pandora radio.
“We are excited to be partnering with the City of Greenville to
proactively deliver safety messages to help raise awareness and reduce
fatalities among pedestrians and bicyclists in our state,” said Hanna Cockburn,
director of the department’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Division. “This media
campaign is another tool to help educate pedestrians, drivers and bicyclists
about how to keep themselves and others safe while on the road.”
At the same time, law enforcement officers will receive special
training for enforcing bicycle and pedestrian safety laws as part of the
program, which officially launched in 2012 to promote pedestrian safety. There
are now 36 participating partner communities across the state.
The UNC
Highway Safety Research Center provides technical support with program
implementation and evaluation. For more information about the Watch for Me NC
program or to see what past communities have done to improve safety, click here.