Prince William police to launch ‘Street Smart’

Police will focus on pedestrian safety next week in efforts to draw attention to what they call a deadly prob-lem.

Prince William police along with law enforcement agencies throughout the Washington, D.C. area will launch pro-ject "Street Smart" on Sunday. The program, designed to raise awareness about bicyclists and pedestri-ans, will run through Nov. 30.

There have been four pedestrian deaths in Prince William County so far in 2008. That number is down from five during the previous year.

Police will target red light and stop sign violators, motorists who drive without headlights at night and those with defective equipment, such as brakes, windshield wipers and headlights, Sharon Richardson, Prince William police spokeswoman, said in a released statement.

Traffic offenses by bicyclists will also receive "special attention" as police look for helmet law viola-tors, bicycles operating on prohibited highways and riders not obeying the same traffic laws as motorists.

Police will be out in force in areas where pedestrians are common throughout the week.

Targeted streets in the Woodbridge area include U.S. 1, from Featherstone Road to

Occoquan Road; Dale Boulevard, from Ashdale Avenue to Ridgefield Road and Minnieville Road, from Tacketts Mill to Old Bridge Road.

Targeted streets in the Manassas area include Sudley Road, between Irongate Way and Balls Ford Road; Va. 28 from Maplewood Drive to Yorkshire Lane; Lomond Drive South and Ashton Avenue, from Crestwood Drive to Coverstone Drive.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.