September 19, 2019
The
Richmond Police Department is releasing its results of the recent
“Back-to-School Blitz”. RPD officers conducted three weeks (August 26
- September 13) of intensive speed enforcement in school zones around the
city with an emphasis on school zones near the city’s 37 elementary schools.
Officers
cited more than 500 drivers for speed-related violations and another 100
drivers for violations in reference to stops signs, seat belts, and child
safety seats. Officers also made one arrest for driving under the influence of
drugs.
In
addition, more than 100 drivers were mailed citations after being
observed on RPS bus cameras disregarding the flashing lights on city schools
buses.
“As
the school year began, Richmond Police had an increased presence at schools
across the city,” said Special Operations Division Lt. Edward Capriglione.
“We concentrated our speed enforcement efforts near elementary schools because
of the high volume of pedestrian traffic. Our goal was to prevent crashes in
those areas during the weeks students returned to school and we were
successful.”
The
Richmond Police Department will continue to monitor school zones throughout the
school year, while addressing concerns of speeding in other neighborhoods.
“We
have redoubled our efforts to enforce speed limits across the city.
Drivers may not know where we will be and when, but be assured we will be out
there. We ask all drivers to please slow down and help us prevent crashes
in our city.”
So
far in 2019, the Richmond Police Department has cited almost 5,000 drivers
for speed-related violations, as officers enforce speed limits across the
city in support of Vision Zero. That total is an increase of 75%
from the same period last year.
“One
of the most consistent concerns reported to us from residents in neighborhoods
all across the city is speeding traffic. We will continue to respond to
these concerns with increased enforcement. In most crashes, speed is the main
factor that determines whether a serious injury or death occurs. Traveling at
slower speeds results in less severe crashes.”
One of the main components of Vision Zero is to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the city’s streets by 2030.
