Focus In: 2015

January: Obstructed Vision
During the winter months, hurried motorists often fail to take the time to properly clean and clear their windshields from frost and snow. This reduces the driver's ability to see and puts themselves and other at risk. 

February: Failure to Signal
One of the most prevalent and under-enforced traffic violations is failure to signal a lane change or turn. These violations may post little safety risk to the driver, but failing to signal has a great potential for accidents caused by other affected motorists.

March: Unsafe Equipment
Keeping a vehicle properly maintained helps keep everyone traveling on our roadways safer. Inoperable head-lights, tail-lights, signals and horns often go unnoticed by a driver. An officer's friendly reminder may save a life. 

April: Failing to Display Headlights
April marks the beginning of spring rains. Rains and road spray often mask or conceal motor vehicles. State law requires all vehicles to display their headlights any time visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog or other conditions that may render people or vehicles indiscernible on the roadway. 

May: Bike Safety
Interest in biking as an alternative means of transportation and recreational sport continues to gain traction. With this interest, there is a growing need to educate cyclists of all ages on the laws and ordinances for biking on public streets, where cyclists are required to obey the same laws as motorized vehicles.

June: Following Too Close
Thousands of accidents can be avoided by keeping a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you. It is recommended that a driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the conditions of the highway. A safe distance of three car lengths is considered to be reasonable.  At this distance, you will be able to stop or safely avoid an accident

July: Pedestrian Safety
As Minnesota’s warm summer sets in, pedestrian traffic increases. Drivers and pedestrians need to be reminded of their obligations to adhere to the traffic laws. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in designated crossing points and pedestrians must cross the road in a lawful manner. 

August: Child Safety, Seat Belt 
Seat belts save lives. Often the requirements, use and proper installation of a child passenger restraint system are not clearly understood by those transporting children. The Edina Police Department will enforce the use of seatbelts and encourage residents to properly install children’s car and booster seats.

September: Distracted Driving and Use of Texting/Phone While Driving
Drivers often get caught up with distractions inside their vehicles. Whether it’s other people, technology or simply daydreaming, these distractions pose a danger. Every driver is responsible for remaining aware of the potential hazards that exist on the roadways and for using care while operating their vehicle. This means no reading a paper, putting on makeup or rummaging the CD collection. Drivers are prohibited from using a wireless communication device to compose, read or send an electronic message when the vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic. Drivers cannot use their device for sending messages or viewing web pages. A driver’s attention should be focused on operating their vehicle in a safe manner at all times. These are common distractions which can threaten the safety of you and other drivers.

October: Speed, School Zone
By October, school is in full swing and the outdoor activity around schools has increased. Drivers entering School Zones are mandated to reduce their speeds when children are present.

November: Night /Snow Parking
Seasonal parking restrictions go into effect in November. Residents are reminded to keep their vehicles off the street overnight, remove their vehicles from the streets after a snow fall of 1.5 inches or more to provide plow-trucks the opportunity to keep the roadway free and clear all winter long.

December: Move Over
Each year, hundreds of accidents and injuries occur while police officers conduct roadside traffic stops. Following the tragic death of State Trooper Ted Foss, the Minnesota Legislature enacted the “Move Over” law, requiring drivers to move to the furthest lane away from an emergency vehicle as possible.

The violations the Police Department will “Focus In” on have seasonal relevance, affect the quality of life in Edina or pose safety risks to residents. All statutes will be enforced year-round, but additional attention will be paid to the focus of the month.

For more information, contact the Edina Police Department at 952-826-1610.