Red Deer, Alta. – Red Deer RCMP are introducing a new pilot project aimed at improving safety on city streets and trails.
Red Deer RCMP’s Traffic Services is hitting the road with a new initiative aimed at making city streets and trails safe for all. Earlier this month, the detachment launched a pilot project that introduced two police motorcycles to its fleet, marking a new chapter for traffic enforcement and community patrols in Red Deer.
While police motorcycles are not new to Alberta, this project signifies their debut in Red Deer. The two RCMP officers assigned to the motorcycles have undergone specialized training, equipping them to effectively patrol and enforce traffic laws using these agile vehicles. The ultimate goal of this pilot project is to enhance road safety for everyone in Red Deer. Motorcycles offer unique advantages in traffic enforcement; their size and mobility gives officers better sight and flexibility in locating dangerous driving behaviours such as distracted driving, speeding, and seatbelt violations.
The pilot project isn’t just about traffic enforcement, in addition to targeted traffic enforcement, the motorcycles will also be used for proactive patrols of Red Deer's extensive trail system. Their maneuverability will allow officers to access areas that traditional patrol vehicles cannot, increasing visibility and community engagement.
“This gives us a new way to connect with the community while improving road safety” said A/Cpl Raymond Leonhardt of Red Deer RCMP Traffic Services. “Motorcycles allow us to be more mobile, more visible, and better able to respond to the needs of our community, whether that’s enforcing traffic laws or simply having a stronger presence in the spaces where people gather and move throughout the city.”
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