DVIDS – News – Fort Lee law enforcement working to curb vehicle accidents

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FORT LEE, Va. – Targeted traffic-associated mishaps listed here have elevated 25 per cent in excess of the former fiscal calendar year, according to a Provost Marshal Place of work statistical report.

The data also substantiated other targeted visitors dilemma areas, accident developments and basic safety worries all-around the installation.

The traffic-linked data was highlighted through the Garrison Basic safety and Occupational Health and fitness Advisory Council once-a-year assembly. The council incorporates the Fort Lee garrison commander and command sergeant big, the garrison protection officer and others.

Lieutenant C. Varner, Section of the Military Civilian Law enforcement, in depth auto accident statistics to advisory council customers. Just after reviewing the data, he concluded most violations level towards carelessness.

“The greater part of targeted traffic accidents are small and arise in parking a lot,” said Varner, who has labored in regulation enforcement 17 many years. “If people would pay back much more consideration, not be in a hurry, we could reduce website traffic accidents drastically.”

Information comparisons are designed when improves arise or legislation enforcement worries are recognized, stated Varner. In Fiscal 12 months 2022, there were being 196 noted targeted traffic mishaps when compared to 156 reported in FY 21.

“These are only reported accidents,” Varner stated. “When minimal damages result, both of those motorists frequently will cope with exchanging details and not notify regulation enforcement. The amount of money of problems does not issue. We inspire group users to simply call legislation enforcement to report mishaps.”

Parking a lot adjacent to services with substantial commuter site visitors have the most noted accidents on the set up, Varner said. They include Kenner Army Overall health Clinic, the Key Exchange, Military Logistics University’s Heiser Hall and the Holiday getaway Inn Categorical.

Motorists can utilize straightforward techniques to prevent parking large amount mishaps, he added.

“They need to honk their horns one particular or two moments in quick succession, appear left and ideal (for motor vehicles and pedestrians), then little by little relieve out of their parking areas,” he mentioned. “Maintain reduced speeds when touring in parking heaps. Be observant to pedestrians strolling concerning motor vehicles.”

The No.1 incident locale on the installation is a T intersection where an unnamed road connecting to the commissary parking ton fulfills Sisisky Boulevard, Varner mentioned. The intersection is a proper-transform only onto Sisisky Boulevard adjacent to the exit gate.

Accidents occur there typically throughout the next fifty percent of the workday when the amount of vehicles leaving the set up enhance considerably, he claimed.

“Sisisky is pretty busy for people making an attempt to leave out of the gate,” he additional. “Those who are leaving the commissary and primary exchange need to have to be careful when entering Sisisky Boulevard. Commuters often get inpatient and check out to pressure by themselves into traffic with no yielding.”

For the duration of FY 22, 10 accidents had been recorded at the commissary road/Sisisky Boulevard intersection, stated Varner.

“The bottom line is we have to share the road,” stated Varner. “Be courteous to all website traffic, be affected person, and most important, be harmless.”

Also, in the course of his presentation, Varner detailed concerns with unlawful parking. Parking problems are a daily problem for law enforcement.

“Parking availability is not the trouble,” reported Varner. “The concern is commuters who do not abide by parking polices.”

In places this sort of as the Holiday getaway Inn Specific, adjacent to ALU, legislation enforcement personnel have created as numerous as 20 citations a 7 days.

“We have employed substantial attempts to raise recognition to incorporate created citations and the use of parking boots,” stated Varner. “We want to remind community associates to park in selected parking areas.”

Violations about the ALU area have bundled cars parked on the finish caps of the parking lane, autos parked in the grass and autos parked within just the wood line.

“It’s an ongoing difficulty,” he said, noting law enforcement is not staffed to focus methods in 1 location. “These parking concerns also lead to the accidents in parking plenty.”

The PMO is continuing attempts with important leaders and personnel to lower parking difficulties and accidents across the installation, stated Varner.

The SOHAC also incorporated information and assessments on other basic safety troubles to consist of motor vehicle speeding violations, highway closures during actual physical teaching hours, dispatched auto mishaps, radiation studies and personalized and on-the-career accidents.