We all have an idea of what safe driving looks like, but it’s important to remind ourselves that small changes behind the wheel can dramatically decrease the chance of crashes that can be life-altering or even deadly. Please review the following concerns to increase your awareness and improve everyone’s experience on Buckeye roadways.
Distracted Driving can involve any activity behind the wheel that takes your attention away from the road. Many of us associate this violation with cell phone use. In Arizona, it’s illegal to use your phone hand-held or to text while driving.
Speeding is one of the top traffic complaints reported to our department. According to 2020 NHTSA stats, nearly 30% of deadly crashes nationwide involved speeding. About 13% of injury crashes were speed-related.
Traffic control equipment is in place to enhance safety, so it is imperative that everyone obey traffic lights, signs, signals and lane restrictions/closures when they are present.
Pedestrians and cyclists may not always be immediately visible to drivers so it is important to watch out for them. More than 220 pedestrians were killed on Arizona roads in 2020, according to the most recent NHTSA data. People must cross at designated crosswalks and traffic signals. Cyclists, however, are allowed to share the road with drivers and are required to obey traffic signs and signals riding single file on the right following the traffic flow.
The Buckeye Police Department has a number of tools to enforce safe driving including a dedicated traffic team that conducts regular patrols to watch for violations. This team also tracks and monitors problem areas, some of which are reported to our department by residents just like you. The team currently includes a sergeant and three officers, but the team will soon be expanding to ensure appropriate coverage for our rapidly growing population.
Buckeye residents play an important role in traffic enforcement by reporting issues they see on the road. If you are witnessing criminal activity in progress, for example reckless or aggressive driving, please call 911 so officers can respond quickly to locate the driver and take appropriate action. If you want to report a traffic concern, it is helpful to call our non-emergency line at 623-386-4421 to report the issue, relevant cross streets, and the general time of day when the apparent violations are occurring.
What happens if officers are responding to traffic problems reported by our residents but are not seeing the violations taking place? This can be a frustrating issue for all involved, but it is a challenge that can be overcome with strong partnerships with our community, city leaders and departments. The Buckeye Police Department may take additional measures to increase awareness. In some cases, studies can be conducted to collect data on traffic activity in a specific area. This data can better inform our enforcement measures.
The Buckeye Police Department relies on our community to be our extra eyes and ears. Your assistance in reporting traffic concerns and practicing safe driving habits can help us provide the best service possible and achieve the highest levels of public safety.
