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West Melbourne Police Participates in High Visibility Enforcement Program to Improve Road Safety

By  //  October 3, 2024

goal is to educate drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists to improve road safety

Brevard County is among the top 25 counties in Florida for traffic crashes that result in serious or fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. To help address this issue, the West Melbourne Police Department is once again participating in the Florida Department of Transportation’s High Visibility Enforcement Program.

Brevard County among the top 25 counties in Florida for traffic crashes that result in serious or fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists

BREVARD COUNTY • WEST MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Brevard County is among the top 25 counties in Florida for traffic crashes that result in serious or fatal injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists.

To help address this issue, the West Melbourne Police Department is once again participating in the Florida Department of Transportation’s High Visibility Enforcement Program.

The goal of the program is to educate drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists about Florida’s traffic laws to improve road safety in West Melbourne.

Beginning this month and running through May 2025, the West Melbourne Police Department will deploy additional officers to patrol areas with a high incidence of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes.

These officers will focus on promoting awareness of the dangerous behaviors that lead to serious or fatal accidents. Officers will be monitoring drivers for speeding, failure to stop pedestrians at crosswalks, improper turns, signal violations, and distracted driving.

Pedestrians will also be monitored for illegal street crossings or failure to yield to vehicles with the right-of-way. Bicyclists will be stopped for riding in traffic, riding without lights at night, or failing to follow the same traffic laws as motor vehicles. Officers will issue warnings or citations when necessary.

“Safety isn’t something that happens by chance; it’s a deliberate choice to stay alert, whether you’re walking, riding, or driving,” said Lt. Graig Erenstoft, who leads this year’s HVE Program. “It takes all of us working together to make a difference.”

“Safety isn’t something that happens by chance; it’s a deliberate choice to stay alert, whether you’re walking, riding, or driving,” said Lt. Graig Erenstoft, who leads this year’s HVE Program. “It takes all of us working together to make a difference.”

This program is funded through a contract with the University of North Florida’s Institute of Police Technology and Management and the Florida Department of Transportation.

The West Melbourne Police Department will receive funding for overtime patrols and specialized training on Florida’s bicycle and pedestrian laws, procedures, and best practices.

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