WE BIKE, etc.

“Cops don’t enforce laws that they don’t know and they don’t enforce laws that they can’t defend.”

The highway safety triangle model (engineering, education and enforcement) for increasing traffic safety has proven itself to be effective for many years. All three elements contribute directly to traffic safety, including that of pedestrians and bicyclists, and proper enforcement is vital.

Police officers don’t enforce laws that they don’t know and they don’t enforce laws that they can’t defend. Yet they are the only people who can enforce laws, both for bicyclists and motorists, to improve bicycle safety.

They also come in contact with bicyclists and motorists on a daily basis. This puts law enforcement officers in a unique position to assist with and add credibility to community efforts to encourage bicycling and improve bicycle safety.

“Pedestrians and bicyclists are the weakest members of the traffic environment and they deserve our protection, especially when they are following the law.”

But did you know that most officers have never received any bicycle specific training? And most do not know the leading causes of bicycle crashes in their community. Isn’t our ultimate goal to prevent crashes and enhance traffic safety? Pedestrians and bicyclists are the weakest members of the traffic environment and they deserve our protection, especially when they are following the law. Peter brings his unique experience as a law enforcement officer to WE BIKE’s law enforcement safety training.

Generally speaking, more than 80% of pedestrian and bicycle crashes with motor vehicles involve less than 20 different violations of the law. If your officers know what these violations are, and enforce to prevent them, they can literally prevent crashes before they happen.

Help your officers by giving them the bicycle safety knowledge and the community assessment skills necessary for better enforcement for drivers and bicyclists. Heightened awareness among law enforcement officers of these violations can lead to better enforcement of laws, modeling of good behaviors, and recognizing and taking advantage of teachable moments with pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

WE BIKE has developed a unique training program for law enforcement  – starting with a basic introduction of the pertinent statutes in an easy-to-read pamphlet to a full two-day course, and everywhere in between. Let WE BIKE help you determine the right training strategy for your local law enforcement community.