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Cleveland Police Department officer Sarah Emery approaches a truck during traffic patrols Tuesday.
The Cleveland Police Department will be stepping up its efforts to promote traffic safety and reduce vehicle accidents this holiday season, as law enforcement officers throughout the state participates in similar campaigns to make roadways safe.
CPD officers held a safety briefing Dec. 21, then conducted traffic enforcement patrol focused on the areas where an increased number of accidents happened. These areas included the intersection of Donald E. Thurmond Parkway at U.S. 129 and where West Kytle Street meets the downtown square.
Officers patrolled for impaired drivers, distracted drives on their cell phones, equipment violations, seatbelt violations, and speed violations. Police Chief Jeff Shoemaker emphasized that there have been more than 1,700 fatal accidents on the roadways of Georgia in 2021 and over 700 of those killed were not wearing seatbelts in the vehicle.
After two hours of patrolling, officers had written 10 citations.
“We would urge our motoring public to be responsible while their driving,” said Shoemaker. “Don’t drink and drive, designate a sober driver. Buckle your seatbelts. Obey the traffic laws. Put your cell phones and other electronic devices away while your driving. And obey the speed limit. That’s just some things they can do for their own safety and to prevent themselves from meeting one our officers today.”