University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

MEDIA RELEASE

CSUN Police Step Up Enforcement of Traffic Laws
to Remind People to Drive Safely

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Oct. 9, 2007) — Cal State Northridge police officers will be stepping up their enforcement of traffic laws for the next two weeks to remind people to drive safely.

Specifically, police officers will be targeting motorists who drive on and near the campus and create safety hazards for pedestrians and other drivers. The effort is part of Project P.E.D. (Pedestrian-Enforcement-Deterrence), an educational safety and enforcement campaign that was established nearly a year ago in response to community concerns about unsafe drivers.

"Our aim is to be a responsive department, implementing special enforcement efforts or programs that benefit the community," said university Police Chief Anne P. Glavin. "When motorists exercise caution while driving and obey the laws, they not only can avoid a citation, but they contribute to creating a safer campus for pedestrians and other drivers."

University law enforcement officials said Project P.E.D. has contributed to a 50-percent decrease in the number of traffic collisions this year compared to 2006, when 74 traffic collisions occurred on the Cal State Northridge campus.

"Most traffic collisions that involve pedestrians usually are a result of driver inattentiveness and unsafe speed," said Alfredo Fernandez, captain of parking and transportation services at CSUN. "In instituting Project P.E.D., our goal is to educate those who drive in and around our campus about the importance of being attentive of those walking across our roadways."

Fernandez reminded those driving in and around the campus to obey all speed limits and stop signs, yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and refrain from using cell phones while operating their vehicles. He also reminded pedestrians to use designated crosswalks and refrain from using their cell phones while crossing the street.

This year, CSUN’s Project P.E.D. is taking on a multi-jurisdictional approach by joining efforts with the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Unified School District during the two-week enforcement campaign that ends Oct. 19.