Street Smart Initiative Reminds Commuters to Follow Traffic Safety Laws or Face Fines

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 24, 2017

April 25, 2017

Washington-area residents, particularly those in high-risk areas for crashes, will see important safety reminders and more law enforcement officers on roads over the next several weeks, as part of the spring Street Smart public safety campaign. The semi-annual effort aims to decrease injuries and fatalities to those who walk and ride bikes by reducing traffic crashes.

The campaign launches as Bicycle Safety Month prepares to kick off in May. Warmer weather encourages more residents to enjoy the outdoors, so local safety officials remind all travelers —whether behind the wheel, on a bike or on foot — to watch out for each other and follow traffic safety laws. According to preliminary data for 2016, 71 pedestrians and 10 bicyclists lost their lives, accounting for 29 percent of the 279 total traffic fatalities in the Washington region.

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

WHEN:  Tuesday, April 25, 2017, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center

 New Hampshire Ave and University Blvd 

Langley Park, MD 20783 

WHO: 

* Rushern L. Baker III, County Executive, Prince George's County

* Isiah Leggett, County Executive, Montgomery County

* Chief Hank Stawinski, Prince George’s County Police Department 

* Tom Gianni, Chief, Maryland Highway Safety Office, Maryland Department of Transportation

* Jeff Marootian, Deputy Director, District Department of Transportation

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

* Suhair Al Khatib, Deputy Administrator, Maryland Transit Administration

* Michelle Adams, advocate and friend of David Narvaez, pedestrian killed crossing a D.C. street 

VISUALS:  Pedestrian Alert Zone:  Vibrant signage and sidewalk messaging will be displayed in the surrounding area to remind drivers and people walking and biking to use caution near this busy intersection. 

Street Teams: Street Teams will be deployed to hand out safety tips to pedestrians and to act as walking billboards of “Tired Faces” public education campaign.

Live Enforcement: Media option to capture footage of live law enforcement activities immediately following press conference at University Blvd (Rte 193) & 15th Ave.

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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: jeffs@sherrymatthews.com 512.743-2629