Medfield Awarded for 32 Years Without a Pedestrian Fatality

AAA Southern New England recently honored Medfield and other Massachusetts communities for their traffic safety education and enforcement programs and for their pedestrian fatality milestones.

Medfield received an award for completing 2010 at 32 years without a pedestrian fatality. Medfield Chief of Police Robert E. Meaney Jr. was at the luncheon to accept the award.

“The fact that Medfield was recognized for this award is significant,” Meaney said. “However the credit for the accomplishment needs to go to the two prior Police Chiefs, Bill Mann and Richard Hurley. This credit should also be shared with the police officers who have served the town during this 32 year time period.”

Meaney credited school crossing guards and patrol staff for contributing to Medfield’s milestone in traffic safety.

“The school crossing guards should also receive high praise since they are the ones who provide a safe environment for our children to cross the various streets on their way to and from school,” Meaney said. “This is the time period where we have the largest number of pedestrians out and about and a potential time for a pedestrian involved incident to occur.

“The patrol staff does conduct traffic enforcement each day at various times. Recently, the officers have been spending time around the school zones during school opening and closing times to reinforce pedestrian safety.”

Meaney also recognized the safety and caution used by pedestrians in town as a major factor for Medfield reaching this milestone.

“It is often determined during the course of an investigation that the motor vehicle operator was not at fault,” Meaney said of pedestrian related motor vehicle incidents. “Pedestrians have a large measure of control over their own safety. Simple things such as making sure it is safe to cross the road before doing so, not just walking out into the road and assuming that the motor vehicle operator will first, see you and then second, be able to stop in time. When walking along a road, make sure to face traffic so that you see what is coming towards you and take the appropriate action, if needed, to avoid being struck.”

To achieve the pedestrian and traffic safety milestone for another 32 years, Meaney offered this tip:

“Pedestrians should make sure they are visible by wearing light colored or reflective clothing,” Meaney said. “I realize everyone is not going to wear a reflective vest each time they are on foot. However, those folks who walk or run regularly should take clothing into consideration. If you are purchasing clothing that you will regularly run or walk in, why not wear something with reflective qualities? Hats, gloves, footwear and jackets can all be obtained with reflective material on them. Alternatively if you are looking for a convenient way to carry keys, money, cards, cell phone, etc. then consider a small waist pack with reflective material on it.”

Meaney said Medfield has “received a great award for pedestrian safety” and he hopes to continue receiving the award on behalf of the town.

“However that can only be done if motorists, pedestrians and law enforcement all do their part in a collaborative effort to keep Medfield safe,” Meaney said.