when it’s in your power to act. ~Proverbs 3:27
“Curbside Haiku,” is a safety education and public art campaign launched in November 2011, is a set of twelve bright, eye-catching designs by artist John Morse that mimic the style of traditional street safety signs. Each sign is accompanied by a clever haiku poem.
The signs have drawn some critics, who say they are to harshly worded. From an officer who has made several trips to the door of an unsuspecting family member, just to notify them their loved one is dead, I think they are a good start.
Placed near eye level in high-crash locations near cultural institutions and schools, the colorful signs draw attention to the critical importance of shared responsibility among pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in keeping New York City’s streets safe.
This could be a smart investment for other cities as well, and a great tool for officers involved in Crime Prevention or Community Policing. The strategy shares similarities with the Below 100 campaign from Law Officer Magazine. I believe both of these efforts will save lives.
As an instructor it is obvious how well these visuals work with the audience they are trying to reach. An image can say a lot in a few seconds and they are far more effective than text alone. Think of innovative ways to incorporate pictures and visuals into your presentations; your students and society will both benefit from your efforts.
Flickr has thousands of police photos for you to use for your next presentation. The site is the best online photo sharing application in the world. Best of all - it’s free.
Click on the storefront above and then on “Sets” to download these and other pictures from the LEO-Trainer Flickr page.
