Chat With the Chief: Maple Grove’s Chief Eric Werner Talks Traffic Safety
Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner spoke recently with CCX Media’s Rusty Ray about traffic enforcement and ways his officers want to make sure everyone stays safe on the city’s roads.
Maple Grove police want everyone to stay safe on the roads.
“We’re blessed to have a community where a lot of people want to come into our city,” said Chief Werner. “With all of our roads around us, that does create a lot of traffic and a lot of safety concerns.”
He said his department, which includes two officers focused solely on traffic safety, focuses on three areas of education and enforcement: red lights, distracted driving, and speed.
Red Lights
Werner reminds drivers to obey all traffic signals.
“When you see that yellow light, that means you’ve got to start stopping,” he said. “The red light is coming, and if you continue, those are the most dangerous accidents, those right-angle crashes.”
Werner reminds drivers to also not dart across several lanes of traffic if they missed a turn.
“If you can, just pay attention and take time,” he said.
Distracted Driving
Despite several new laws, education and enforcement campaigns, and even the pleas of victims families after distracted driving-caused fatal crashes, Chief Werner said he still sees countless drivers looking at phones while on the road.
“It’s just so much a part of our culture. I think we’re just ingrained to pick that phone up,” he said. “Bottom line: it’s a hands-free state. Put the phone down, there’s nothing worth viewing on that phone than someone else’s life, or your own. So put the phone down.”
Speed
Law enforcement and drivers statewide note an increase in speeding drivers since the start of the pandemic, when traffic was lighter as more people stayed home more often.
Werner reminds all drivers to obey the posted speed limit and pay attention to the road.
