Deputy Pen Pal Program in Santa Barbara
I’m Ed Smith, a Santa Barbara personal injury lawyer. A new program, instituted by the office of county sheriff in Santa Barbara, hopes that children around the community will build a positive relationship with members of law enforcement. I want to extend my congratulations and appreciation to the county sheriff’s office, and to Deputy Green in particular, for instituting this well thought out program, which will foster a sense of community among residents.
Positive Aspects of the Program
The program, called Deputy Pen Pal, was begun by Officer Shae Green. She patrols the communities of the valley of Santa Ynez and the Chumash reservation. When not busy patrolling, she enjoys receiving correspondence from children in the county and responding to them. Deputy Green says the letters are rewarding, and all the children express their appreciation for the services of first responders. It also gives the officers an opportunity to be positive role models and offer support, incentive and advice to help the county’s young people.
Teaching Safety
Establishing a connection with young people in a community helps law enforcement teach safety measures that can save lives. One such example is pedestrian safety. While drivers are mandated to use caution when driving to avoid pedestrian accidents, some of the responsibility to stay safe lies with the pedestrians themselves.
Pedestrian Accidents
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the year 2013, there were nearly 5,000 fatal pedestrian accidents in the United States. Roughly 150,000 pedestrians were injured. Of all, children and the elderly are at the greatest risk. In fact, for every five children killed in a traffic crash, one was a pedestrian.
Crosswalks are intended to help keep pedestrians safe when crossing an intersection. However, drivers may be unaware a crosswalk is available due to inadequate alerts. On the other hand, a driver may be speeding, and the inability to stop results in a pedestrian accident.
One way to avert pedestrian accidents is for walkers to be alert for potentially dangerous situations. This means all pedestrians, including children, need to use the old adage of “stop, look and listen” before crossing the street. Other safety precautions are not darting between cars and only crossing when appropriate.
Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
Some injuries that are frequently seen with pedestrian accidents include:
Santa Barbara Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Santa Barbara personal injury lawyer. Although all of us hope to avoid motor vehicle and other types of accidents, they do occur. If you become a victim of another person’s negligence, I hope that you or your injured family member will call me at (805) 372-0200 for free and friendly advice. Outside the dialing area, I can be reached at (800) 404-5400.
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Photo Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Countdown_pedestrian_signal.jpg Courtesy of Magnus Manske
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