Editor's Note: The following features are from Lakeville Police Chief Thomas Vonhof's weekly newsletter, "Breezes."
Officer Kevin O’Neill spent a couple of days this week at several elementary schools in town teaching the students about bicycle safety. Officer O’Neill’s goal with bike safety education has been to try and reach out to every elementary age student possible. The importance of bicycle safety may not seem like the top public safety concern, but it is because we have so many bicyclists in our community.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2011 there were 677 bicyclist fatalities in the United States and over48,000 bicyclists were injured in crashes. By learning and following safe bicycling rules, many of those crashes could have been averted.
All bicyclists should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride. A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.
Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators; they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. When cycling in the street, cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic.
Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists. Be courteous—allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road, look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space, and yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals. Be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.
Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, dawn, and dusk. To be noticed when riding at night, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing. Safe bicycling is a responsibility of all of us who share the road and teaching young cyclists the “safety rules of the road” is one way to promote safe bicycling.
OFFICER RECOGNIZED FOR “POLAR PLUNGE” EFFORTS
Officer Kevin O’Neill spent a couple of days this week at several elementary schools in town teaching the students about bicycle safety. Officer O’Neill’s goal with bike safety education has been to try and reach out to every elementary age student possible. The importance of bicycle safety may not seem like the top public safety concern, but it is because we have so many bicyclists in our community.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2011 there were 677 bicyclist fatalities in the United States and over48,000 bicyclists were injured in crashes. By learning and following safe bicycling rules, many of those crashes could have been averted.
All bicyclists should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride. A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.
Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators; they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. When cycling in the street, cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic.
Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists. Be courteous—allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road, look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space, and yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals. Be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.
Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, dawn, and dusk. To be noticed when riding at night, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing. Safe bicycling is a responsibility of all of us who share the road and teaching young cyclists the “safety rules of the road” is one way to promote safe bicycling.
OFFICER RECOGNIZED FOR “POLAR PLUNGE” EFFORTS
School Resource Officer Andy Hentges was recognized at the Lakeville City Council meeting last week for his efforts in organizing the South Metro Polar Plunge over the past six years. The charitable event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Special Olympics in Minnesota over the past several years and has grown dramatically in both number of participants and money raised for charity. Captain Tim Knutson presented a plaque to SRO Hentges recognizing his contribution in helping to organize this event. Captain Knutson also recognized SRO Hentges for receiving the Minnesota MADD School Resource Officer of the Year Award at the City Council meeting. SRO Hentges was presented with the award at the Minnesota MADD Annual Meeting earlier this year.
LIGHTNING STRIKES HOUSE DURING NIGHT
LIGHTNING STRIKES HOUSE DURING NIGHT
We have had one of the coldest and rainiest springs on record and it has rained almost every day in the past week. One night this week at 1:45 a.m., Officer Shawn Fitzhenry responded to a residence that had been struck by lightning. There was smell of smoke in the house, but no fire and no one was injured. There was visible damage where the lightning had struck the front of the house. The Lakeville Fire Department units arrived on the scene to investigate further.
WEEKLY LPD SNAPSHOT
Sampling of LPD activity for the week of May 24 – 31, 2013
Traffic crashes 8 Alarms 38 Animal Calls 37 Medical Emergency Calls 39 Thefts 33 Traffic Stops 363
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