"Cross with Care" Campaign launched by South Simcoe Police

The South Simcoe Police Service officially launched their "Cross with Care" road safety campaign today on Holland Street West in the Town of Bradford.

The campaign will focus on improving pedestrian safety in the downtown core area of Bradford. In the past twelve months, three pedestrians have been stuck in Bradford. Two resulted in fatal injuries.

Today's launch was held at the intersection of Holland Street West and Church Street. An intersection where police continue to receive complaints about vehicles failing to yield to pedestrians and passing each other within 30 meters of the Pedestrian Cross Over (PXO). Following today's kick-off, members of the media in attendance, witnessed South Simcoe Police stop twenty four (24) vehicles in less than an hour for cross-over related offences.

One driver was stopped after making a sudden lane change from the passing lane into the curb lane and then passing three stopped vehicles in a Pedestrian Cross Over. When the officer approached the car, he found that the driver was in the process of pouring butane lighter fluid from a container into his "Zippo" lighter. He has been charged with Careless Driving under the Highway Traffic Act.

On hand to support Chief Bruce J. Davis and the men and women of the South Simcoe Police Service was Bradford Mayor, Doug White. White, also a member of the Police Services Board, is in full support of the police services efforts to improve road safety in Bradford.

During the kick-off, Staff Sergeant Steve Wilson pointed out that over 19,000 cars a day travel along Holland Street West (County Road #88). The police service is hoping to educate as many motorists as possible about this road safety campaign in the next month, and thanked the media for their continued support and coverage of the program.

The police service will also be addressing concerns from local schools about students who choose to cross the intersection of Holland Street West and Melbourne Drive against traffic lights. Sergeant Lisa Hunt, the officer in charge of the Community Services Branch has been working with local schools to address the risks that students are taking. Despite all efforts, some students still choose to engage in this dangerous behavior and police will be concentrating on pedestrian traffic from the high schools. The fine for "J" walking, as it is commonly known, is $50.00.

The campaign will run for the month of June. Officers will be assigned daily during the daytime and evening hours to patrol in marked and unmarked cruisers, motorcycles and bicycles. Drivers stopped for failing to yield to pedestrians, or passing within 30 meters of a crosswalk can expect to receive a fine of $360 as all intersections in the Town of Bradford with PXO's have been designated as "Community Safety Zones" by Town Council.