WINFIELD, W.Va. — Drivers in Putnam County will want to pay extra attention as they approach a red light or stop sign in the weeks ahead.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department is participating in operation Target Red, which is aimed at targeted enforcement toward obeying red lights and stop signs.
“We will be looking for any motorists that violate failure to stop at a stop sign, or runs a traffic control device (red light) within the county,” said Putnam Sheriff Steve Deweese.
Funding from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program will pay to enhance patrols at intersections from Monday through August 14th for increased enforcement of red lights and stop signs.
“We’ll have deputies out at four-hour intervals on certain days. Of course, naturally it won’t be a set day each time, for the next two weeks,” Deweese said.
Deweese said that many motorists think nothing of speeding up to avoid a traffic light or rolling through a stop sign, but the accidents that occur from such incidents tend to be severe.
“These crashes are usually pretty severe and sometimes resulting in death because we’ve got people turning into the traffic lane, and these impacts are usually on the passenger side or driver side. We call them a T-bone type collision.”
He reminded motorists the law when it comes to red lights and stop signs.
“You come to a stop sign, you need to come to a complete stop, and of course naturally clear all other lanes before you proceed straight,” he said. “The amber or yellow light means prepare to stop. A lot of people have a tendency to violate that.”
Deweese said that in other areas, such as in Beckley, where such enforcement has been increased, red light violations dropped by more than 60 percent.
“Once you start writing citations, that gets out pretty quick,” he said.