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Herndon unveils Roadway Safety Action Plan; police defend drone and license‑plate reader use
Summary
Herndon officials described a community‑shaped Roadway Safety Action Plan with a goal of "0 fatalities, 0 serious injuries in 12 years." Police said they have expanded drone use, added bike patrols, and run license‑plate readers under state retention rules and audit safeguards.
Herndon officials described a new Roadway Safety Action Plan and outlined recent changes to public-safety operations at the town’s Feb. 27 State of the Town and follow-up Q&A.
Mayor Kevin LeBlanc said the Roadway Safety Action Plan was built from resident input and data from VDOT, police crash reports and engineering reviews. He announced an ambitious target: "0 fatalities, 0 serious injuries in 12 years," and said the town wants to make Herndon bikeable, walkable and drivable with targeted changes near schools and high‑pedestrian zones.
Police Chief Steven Pohonic described technology and staffing shifts the department is using to support that goal. Pohonic said the department has expanded use of drones for missing‑person searches, crime‑scene mapping and, in at least one recent incident, to clear a potentially dangerous interior during a swatting call. "For a couple 100 to $1,000, it's in my eyes, it's it's worth every penny," he said, pointing to the operational value and reduced risk to officers.
The chief also addressed automated license‑plate readers and privacy concerns. He said state regulations and departmental policies limit retention and audit access: data are retained under a 21‑day rule, the town owns and encrypts the data, and there are reporting and audit procedures for any operational "hits." He described the red‑light camera program as moving through required engineering studies, with selected intersections under review and vendor work likely months away.
On enforcement strategy, Pohonic said some apparent year‑over‑year drops in speeding citations reflect changes in charge selection and reporting practices; officers sometimes use lower‑point violations when appropriate and the department is refocusing enforcement toward data‑driven safety priorities rather than ticket volume.
LeBlanc and the chief said the town will complement technology with increased bike and foot patrols, education campaigns for motorized bicycles and continued community engagement to improve safety.
