In a deepening commitment to the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists, Shelby, NC has joined Watch for Me NC. The program among other strategies hosts workshops and trainings for law enforcement that focus on increasing the integrity of travel on sidewalks, crosswalks, and streets.
Each year, approximately 3,000 pedestrians and 850 bicyclists are hit by cars on North Carolina Streets. Watch for Me NC is a comprehensive program, run by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) in partnership with local communities, aimed at reducing the number of pedestrians and bicyclists hit and injured in crashes with vehicles.
The Watch for Me NC program involves two key elements: 1) safety and educational messages directed toward drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, and 2) high visibility enforcement efforts by area police to reduce violations of traffic safety laws. Local programs are typically led by municipal, county, or regional government staff with the involvement of many others, including pedestrian and bicycle advocates, city planners, law enforcement agencies, engineers, public health professionals, elected officials, school administrators, and others.
The Watch for Me NC program, which started with a pilot program in Wake, Durham, and Orange counties in 2012, each year invites communities across North Carolina to become partner communities. As part of that effort, partner communities receive additional support and training from NCDOT. All North Carolina communities are encouraged to use Watch for Me NC materials to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
