Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s ‘Safe Routes to School’ Program to Join with MCPS to Host ‘Virtual Safety Week’ for Elementary and Middle School Students May 4-8

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 29, 2020

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) “Safe Routes to Schools” program and Montgomery County Public Schools will jointly host the first “Virtual Safety Week” that will start online at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 4, and continue through 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8. This weeklong free event, which has been developed for elementary and middle school students and their families, will emphasize the need to be safe and look out for others in all forms of travel.

The week will include at-home interactive and creative activities, video demonstrations, raffles and giveaways. Student participants are encouraged to take part and submit their completed activities from 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8, through 5 p.m., on Sunday, May 10, to be considered for prizes and recognition.

Virtual Safety Week aims to remind children and parents about the importance of pedestrian, bicycle and traffic safety. The event’s interactive activities  will be posted at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/safetyweek. 

Children will have the opportunity to choose from various daily activities that will include safety while walking and biking. An online calendar will be available for students to track progress and submit at least one activity and a completed safety calendar at the end of the week. The first 20 complete submissions received after 5 p.m. on May 8 will receive a $15 Amazon gift cards. Safe Routes to School’s zebra mascot, Zeal, will select winners for six additional prizes from a raffle drawing including all participants who provide completed submissions. All prize winners will be announced at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 11.

Virtual Safety Week is part of Montgomery County’s Vision Zero initiative to end traffic-related deaths by 2030. Vision Zero is a proven approach to preventing roadway-related deaths and serious injuries. It represents a fundamental change in how the County plans and designs its roads, shifting from a focus on maximizing motor vehicle efficiency to ensuring that roads are safe regardless of whether travel is by car, bus, bicycle or foot.

“Building a culture of safety in Montgomery County starts with our kids,” said Wade Holland, the County’s Vision Zero coordinator. “Virtual Safety Week provides the perfect opportunity for kids and parents to interact, learn new skills and talk about safety—while staying at home.”

Virtual Safety Week activities will include:

• Safety Bingo — Printable bingo cards and pieces with safety related images on them.
• Safety Maze — Online maze activity helps identify a safe route from home to school.
• Spot the Difference – View two similar safety images and spot the difference.
• Scavenger Hunt – Look around your house and neighborhood to find items related to safety.
• Safety Pledge – A pledge with tips that parents and children to sign for a commitment to safety.

MCDOT will share selected images from social media that include the hashtag #MoSafetyWeek.

For more information about Virtual Safety Week, contact Duwan Morris at [email protected].

For the most up-to-date local transportation information, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, or subscribe to MCDOT news releases. For more information on Vision Zero, follow @VisionZeroMC, or visit montgomerycountymd.gov/visionzero.

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Release ID: 20-230
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915