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Resources

Taking Steps to Keep Parking Lots Risk-Free for Pedestrians

Here is a startling fact: 22% of the pedestrian-related collisions in Montgomery County occur in parking lots. That figure adds up to 324 parking lot collisions involving pedestrians over the past three and one-half years. Clearly, parking lots are danger zones.

Here’s what we’re doing:

• Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett launched a public education campaign in October to improve pedestrian safety in parking lots. (press release)
  
• Distributed posters (pdf) to libraries; senior, recreation, and community centers; property managers; retailers and others.
  
• Created a tip sheet (pdf) with safety tips for drivers and pedestrians.
  
• Placed ADs (pdf) on Ride On buses and in some movie theaters.
  

Here’s what you can do:

• Give a short presentation on parking lot safety at a meeting of your neighborhood association, faith-based community, or service group (Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, etc.). To make it easy, we’ve created a downloadable PowerPoint presentation.
  
• Send an article (pdf) to your neighborhood or residents’ association newsletter or listserv.
• Check the Get Involved Guide (pdf) for other ideas.
• Send a message (pdf) to family, friends and others in your e-mail address book, or post a message on your Facebook page.
  
• If you see a near miss in a parking lot, or some bad driver or pedestrian behavior, use Twitter to tell others about it. If you see, good behavior from drivers or pedestrians, send a Tweet about it, too.
  

What can drivers and pedestrians do to reduce the risk of parking lot collisions? Here are a few tips:

When You are a Pedestrian

• Always stay alert for vehicles.
  
• Don’t assume drivers see you.
  
• Watch for vehicles pulling out of parking spaces.
  
• Don’t walk behind a vehicle that is backing out
  
• Be cautious and look around before walking out between parked vehicles.
  
• Treat the parking lot as you would a road – be aware and constantly look around for vehicles.

When You Are a Driver

• Parking lots are not speedways – slow down!
  
• Always stay alert for pedestrians.
  
• Don’t assume pedestrians see you.
  
• Be especially cautious backing out of a space.
  
• Never cut across parking space lanes.

Remember: Safety is your responsibility!

Drive Safe!®: Keeping Pedestrians Safe When You’re Behind the Wheel is an English language instructional video designed to teach pedestrian safety concepts to students in driver education classes or other instructional venues where pedestrian safety issues can be integrated into the curriculum.

There are two versions of the video. One version is for teenage students and contains examples and images more likely to resonate with teenage drivers. The other version is for adult learners, including those who are non-native English speakers

Each video has six sections. While each section is self-contained and it is not necessary to show all six sections at one time, it is recommended that the instructor show the sections in numerical order, since the content of each section often builds on safety concepts taught in one or more of the previous sections.

 
Version For Teen Drivers

Version For All New Drivers

Section 1: Introduction/Responsibility
3 min
3 min

Section 2: Be Aware
3.5 min
3.5 min

Section 3: Know the Law
2.5 min
2.5 min

Section 4. Have Patience
1.75 min
1.75 min

Section 5: Pedestrians Who Require More Patience
2.5 min
2.5 min

Section 6: Summary and Review
30 sec
30 sec

All
Video

Video

Pedestrian Safety Public Service Announcements

1. :30 Victims
2. :30 Be Patient
3. :30 Drive Safe!®
4. :30 Red Ball

Drive Safe!®: Keeping Pedestrians Safe When You’re Behind the Wheel
© 2009 by Montgomery County, Maryland, Office of Public Information. All rights reserved. This video was developed as an educational tool to teach pedestrian safety concepts to drivers. It may be downloaded under a limited license for educational and non-commercial services. It may not be downloaded or distributed for sale.

Tools and Resources for Teachers

These downloadable tools will help instructors teach the pedestrian safety concepts covered in the Drive Safe!® video:

• Section 2 Scenario Cards (pdf)
• Section 3 Know the Law Index Cards (pdf)
• Teacher’s Guide Print Quality (pdf)
• Request the DVD and Teacher’s Guide
• Surveys - pre and post (pdf)

Mail completed surveys to:

Montgomery County Office of Public Information
101 Monroe Street, 4th Floor
Rockville, MD 20850

Walk Safe™ Keeping Pedestrians Safe in the “Danger Zone”

Walk Safe!™ is a 24-minute English language instructional video designed to teach pedestrian safety concepts. It was developed for use in ESOL classes and other instructional venues where English is taught at basic, intermediate and advanced levels. It may also be used in classes for young adults who are not necessarily ESOL students. And since everyone is a pedestrian at least some of the time, the concepts in this video are useful for anyone who crosses the road anywhere, anytime.

The video has five modules, each of which can be downloaded and viewed individually, or the video can be viewed in its entirety:

• Module 1: Introduction (4.5 minutes)
• Module 2: Signs and Signals (6 minutes)
• Module 3: “Walk Safe!” Rules (5 minutes)
• Module 4. Risky Situations (4.5 minutes)
• Module 5: Be Safe!: Summary and Review (5.5 minutes)
• Download all video files (.zip format | 60MB)
• Tools and Resources For Teachers
• Request the DVD and Teacher’s Guide

Pedestrian Safety Public Service Announcements

• 60 second (Version 1| Version 2)
• 30 second (Version 1| Version 2)
• 15 second (Version 1| Version 2)
• 10 second (Version 1| Version 2)

Walk Safe!™ is a trademark of the University of Miami.
© 2008 by Montgomery County, Maryland, Office of Public Information All rights reserved. This video was developed as an educational tool to teach pedestrian safety concepts. It may be downloaded under a limited license for educational and non-commercial services. It may not be downloaded or distributed for sale

Tools and Resources For Teachers

These downloadable tools will help you teach the pedestrian safety concepts in the Walk Safe™ video:

Teacher’s Guide (pdf) Vocabulary lists, suggested activities and comprehension checks for use with the Walk Safe™ video

• Module 2 Worksheet
• Module 3 Worksheet
• Module 4 Worksheet
• Module 2, 3, 4 Worksheet
• Teacher's Guide Print Quality PDF
• Survey (pre | post) pdfs. Mail completed surveys to:
  Montgomery County Public Information Office
  101 Monroe Street, 4th Floor
  Rockville, MD 20850

Signs and Signals Images and pictures of signs and signals in the video

Walk Signal

Don’t Walk Signal

Don’t Start Signal

Countdown Signal

Pedestrian Walk Button

Pedestrian Walk Sign

Stop Sign

Yield Sign

Traffic Signal

Crosswalk

Intersection

General Information

Pedestrian Facility Users Guide
Useful information on walkable communities, for reducing pedestrian crashes, and engineering improvements.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Federal agency whose mission is to reduce traffic deaths. Part of the US Dept of Transportation

Information for Drivers

Read the Road
If you have a question about any of the signs, signals, or road markings, this handy online manual has lots of answers.

Rules of the Road
For a complete copy of the Rules of the Road in Maryland. Select Maryland Code, then Transportation (first select 'More' to see the full list), then Title 21, Rules of the Road.

Information for Pedestrians

Pedestrian Facilities Reference Guide
If you have a question about pedestrian facilities and how they work and how they can work better, this online guide has lots of answers.

National Center for Bicycling & Walking
Great source for all kinds of information. Sign up for their Centerlines E-newsletter.

Walkable Communities
An organization that promotes communities that are safe and fun to walk in. Check out their library.

Is Your Community Walkable?
Use this checklist to see what is needed to make your community safer for walking.

Information for Teachers and Students

The Walking School Bus Information Website
If you’re interested in setting up a walking school bus, this is the place to start.

Safe Routes to Schools Program
How to make it safer on the walk to school.

Maryland Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education Program, Teacher’s Guide (big pdf, requires fast internet connection) and cover (Word doc).

 
Director's Office · Montgomery County Department of Transportation
101 Monroe Street, 10th Floor · Rockville, Maryland 20850 · mcdot.director@montgomerycountymd.gov
· telephone: 240-777-7170 · fax: 240-777-7178 ·