Asheville area law enforcement officers recently received special training about enforcing bicycle and pedestrian safety laws as part of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Watch for Me NC campaign.
Representatives from the Asheville Police Department’s Downtown Unit and the Traffic Safety Unit attended a one-day seminar July 22 at Asheville-Buncombe Community Technical College. The training course will include classroom instruction and field exercises for the officers, who will learn and practice various tactical operations to promote pedestrian and motorist safety. The training sessions are intended to support officers in enhancing their local efforts at ensuring area drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians are following state laws.
The training was led by Brian Massengill, a sergeant with the Durham Police Department. Sgt. Massengill has more than a dozen years’ experience as a law enforcement officer and is certified by the Law Enforcement Bicycle Association.
About Watch for Me
The Watch for Me NC campaign is a comprehensive approach to reducing bicycle and pedestrian crashes and fatalities in North Carolina. The campaign uses multi-media strategies to educate motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, and provides resources to law enforcement efforts. In 2014, the campaign expanded to cities across the state.