The District is a leader in the nation in reducing traffic deaths and the Metropolitan Police Department has been recognized for its safety campaigns and enforcement efforts. In fact, earlier this year MPD received an award from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association for decreases in our overall traffic fatality rates.

I find it astounding that AAA Mid-Atlantic would criticize a program that has been successful in reducing traffic deaths. Additionally, we constantly receive requests from residents and Councilmembers for increased enforcement in their neighborhoods and we move our resources to new sites to accommodate those requests and reduce speeding, fatalities and crashes. The District actually appreciates the AAA designation as a “Strict Enforcement Area,” as this attention helps warn drivers to slow down and obey traffic laws, which supports our goal of safer roads for everyone using them. 

Cathy L. Lanier,

Police Chief

Metropolitan Police Department