Montgomery County Supports Regional Street Smart Pedestrian Safety Campaign

For Immediate Release: Thursday, November 3, 2016

November 4, 2016; 10:30 a.m.

From the Metropolitan Council of Governments:

Street Smart Campaign Reminds Motorists, Pedestrians and Bicyclists to Obey Traffic Laws or Face Fines

Traffic Crashes Involving Pedestrians, Bicyclists Tend to Increase during Fall Months

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A location near the site of two tragic pedestrian deaths will host the launch of the fall Street Smart campaign in which Washington-area transportation and law enforcement authorities are reminding drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians of the tragic costs they could face for not following traffic safety laws.

In 2015, 75 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed on Washington-area streets. Fall brings fewer hours of daylight, which can make seeing pedestrians and bicyclists more difficult for drivers. Fall and winter months also tend to see the largest number of traffic crashes in the metro area involving pedestrians. 

From now through November 27, local law enforcement officers will increase their efforts to identify and ticket drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists who break traffic safety laws. These tickets may result in fines that range from $40 to $500 or points added to driver records.

WHAT:  Press conference and launch for the fall Street Smart pedestrian and bicycle safety campaign with officials from throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia attending.

WHEN:  Friday, November 4 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Parking lot of United Medical Center at 1310 Southern Ave SE, Washington, DC 20032 

WHO: Sam Zimbabwe, Acting Chief Project Delivery Director, District Department of Transportation

Commander Jeff Carroll, Metropolitan Police Department

Chief Hank Stawinski, Prince George’s County Police Department

John Saunders, Director, DMV’s Virginia Highway Safety Office 

Christine Nizer, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administrator, Maryland Department of Transportation

Dr. Anthony Jones, United Medical Center Emergency Medicine Physician

VISUALS:  Seventy-five pairs of gently worn white shoes, one for each pedestrian or bicyclist who perished last year, will sit atop the steps of choir risers as a stark reminder of the lives lost across the D.C. region. 

Media also will have the option to film law enforcement activities near a new HAWK beacon (High-intensity Activated crossWalK beacon), recently installed at a nearby intersection where two pedestrians were killed last year. Street teams will also be on site with walking billboards displaying larger than life “Tired Faces” campaign messages.

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The Council of Governments is an independent, nonprofit association where area leaders address regional issues affecting the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

Media Contact: Jeff Salzgeber 512-743-2659