Braintree Police Awarded Grant For Bike and Pedestrian Safety

BRAINTREE, MA — The Braintree Police Department was awarded an $8,000 grant from the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to improve safety on local roads for pedestrians and bicyclists.

In total, nearly $700,000 was awarded to 93 police departments across Massachusetts, with money coming from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

With close to 6,000 pedestrians killed in 2016 across the country, pedestrians now account for a larger portion (16 percent) of traffic fatalities than they have in the past 33 years. In Massachusetts, that rate is even higher, with pedestrians representing more than 20 percent of all traffic fatalities. Bicyclists are dying at higher rates nationally as well. The 840 killed in crashes in 2016 are the most since 1991, according to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

"Bicyclists and pedestrians are at risk from the motoring public because they may not be immediately visible to drivers and unlike those in vehicles, nothing protects them in a crash,” said interim Deputy Chief Sean Lydon. “We’ll analyze crash data to identify crosswalks, intersections, and roadways where our enforcement efforts can yield the largest impact on pedestrian and bicyclist safety."

Under the grant, departments will pay for overtime to better enforce traffic laws by all road users. Departments are also eligible to purchase educational materials, bicycle helmets, and safety items to help enhance pedestrian and bicyclist visibility at night. From April through September, the Braintree Police Department will visit schools and run a community outreach plan to educate the public on bicycle safety.