Officers preach bike safety to kids
Bicycle officers from across the state, along with local constables, combined Saturday to teach a lesson in safety to children learning to bike and those getting ready to drive a car for the first time.
“It’s amazing how many children die each year in bicycle accidents,” said 8th District Constable Jerry Scott of the 800 people who die each year in bicycle crashes. “We want to help educate children so they will ride safely.”
About 50 children took part in the Explorer group event. The Explorer group is specializing in law enforcement, specifically cycle patrols. They hope to raise money to afford police-style bikes.
Jere Clark, a member of the Metro Police West Station night bicycle unit which patrols the project areas, was one of several out-of-town units to help Saturday. Clark was joined by campus units from UT Martin and MTSU.
“We want to teach them about traffic safety, hazard avoidance, skill development and of course helmet safety,” Clark said
Along with cycle safety, the event taught participants the dangers of drinking and driving. Using a road course, participants were sent through to see the course, then, the children were sent back through wearing glasses which try to duplicate how it looks to a drunk driver. The event shows the driver how dangerous drinking and driving can be.
“This is good for kids who are about to begin driving because it teaches them a lesson of how dangerous it is,” Scott said. “Here, you hit barrels, but on the road, it could be another car.”
Scott said the constable association plans to sponsor the event annually.