News Releases

Montgomery County Police Spring Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Results

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 14, 2013

In 2013, the focus of police pedestrian safety enforcement is on driver education and enforcement, with pedestrians being cited when unlawful crossing is observed.

This year, there have been 11 pedestrian fatalities through June 13. There have been 107 reports received for pedestrian injury collisions during the first quarter of 2013. With the second quarter not yet complete, 69 reports have been received through June 12.

Each spring, Montgomery County Police participate in the Metropolitan-area-wide Street Smart campaign that is conducted to educate drivers and pedestrians to their shared responsibility for pedestrian safety.

During this spring’s Street Smart campaign, Montgomery County Police planned 14 pedestrian stings with two of those enforcements cancelled due to inclement weather.

The May enforcements were conducted on the following dates at the following locations where a higher number of pedestrian crashes had occurred. These enforcements are usually conducted between a 2 or 2 and ½ hour period:

• 5/8        Veirs Mill Rd. & Turkey Branch Pkwy.
• 5/9        Democracy Blvd. (WJHS)
• 5/14      Democracy Blvd. (WJHS)
• 5/15      Wootton HS
• 5/21      Bethesda ES
• 5/22      Randolph Rd. & Blue Hill
• 5/23      Muddy Branch Rd. & Suffield Dr.
• 5/24      Piney Branch Rd.
• 5/30      Piney Branch Rd.
• 5/31      Aircraft Dr./Transit Stop

During those May enforcements, a total of 271 citations and 52 warnings were issued to drivers and 16 citations were issued to pedestrians. In addition, another 90 citations were issued to drivers in non-pedestrian sting enforcement conducted in March and April of 2013.

During the pedestrian sting enforcements, plain clothes officers dress in bright-colored   t-shirts and cross the street in marked crosswalks.  Officers stop vehicles that do not yield to the plain clothes officers or other pedestrians in the crosswalk, and drivers are issued citations.  General traffic law is also enforced.

The goal to improving pedestrian safety in our neighborhoods is a long-term commitment. Drivers must follow the laws for yielding to pedestrian right-of-way. Pedestrians must help ensure their safety by always taking care and giving their undivided attention when crossing the street. Officers continue to be out this month and throughout the year conducting enforcements. Additional pedestrian safety enforcement information and traffic laws regarding drivers and pedestrians are available at: http://www.mymcpnews.com/divisions-2/field-services-bureau/traffic-division/

**Members of the media are encouraged to attend periods of enforcement.  For future times and locations, please call the Public Information Office at 240-773-5030.**

###

lehb

# # #

Release ID: 13-209
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases