For Immediate Release: Friday, November 2, 2018
Five locations along state roads account for 14 percent of school bus camera violations, since 2016
ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 2, 2018—The Montgomery County Council and the Montgomery County Board of Education sent a joint letter on Oct. 29 to the Administrator for the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), Gregory Slater, to request that the state install signage or other visual mechanism to make drivers on state roads aware of their responsibility to always stop for school buses. Installing visual reminders would help deter drivers from passing school buses that are stopped and, more importantly, improve pedestrian safety.
On the morning of Oct. 9, four students were injured, one critically, after two cars collided on Georgia Ave. in Aspen Hill, sending one of the cars onto a sidewalk where the students were waiting for the school bus and hitting them.
“We need a new era of partnership with SHA to make sure that our County’s transportation system works for everyone,” said Council President Hans Riemer. “The world has changed around these roads. What once were rural highways now run through urban areas and neighborhoods full of kids, bus stops, bikers and other vulnerable users that we need to protect. I am grateful that SHA Administrator Greg Slater has agreed to meet with the Council and has pledged to work with us to make our streets safer.”
“Students cannot learn in schools unless they can safely get to them,” said Board of Education President Michael Durso. “We urge the State Highway Administration to take our requested steps to keep our students safe at their bus stops.”
“We need to work collaboratively to ensure that effective strategies are being employed to prevent putting students’ lives in danger while waiting for, boarding and getting off our school buses,” said Council Vice President Nancy Navarro. “The school bus camera enforcement program system is an enforcement tool that has helped, but more needs to be done. This is why I requested a letter be sent to Governor Hogan and Secretary Peter Rahn on Oct. 16 about the importance of pedestrian safety improvements. I am looking forward to the full Council discussion on Nov. 13, where we can examine short-term and long-term strategies with the SHA, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT).”
“This recent tragedy underscores the necessity of safe co-existence between transit and our students along our busy roadways,” said Councilmember Craig Rice, Chair of the Council’s Education Committee. “We need to continue to educate and remind drivers that they must stop when they see a flashing light on a school bus, the consequences of not doing so can be deadly.”
During a review of the school bus camera program in Sept. 2018, the Council’s Education Committee learned that five of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) school bus stops that account for a majority of the bus camera violations happen on state roads. These include the 8800 block of Colesville Road (US 29); 1400 block of East-West Highway (MD 410); 300 block of North Frederick Avenue (MD 355); 5100 block of River Road (MD 190); and 8800 block of Piney Branch Road (MD320).
Since 2016, these five locations have accounted for 14 percent of all school bus camera violations issued.
In response to an Oct. 16 letter to Governor Hogan, which was spearheaded by Council Vice President Navarro, the Maryland State Highway Administration will meet with the Council on Nov. 13. The meeting will focus on pedestrian and traffic safety along state highways and the potential for reduced speeds and traffic calming measures in high-incident areas as well as the notifications requested for school buses.
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