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Latest StreetSmart Event focuses on Piney Branch High Incident Area
12/12/11: County Executive Leggett joined State, local, and regional leaders for another StreetSmart event to improve pedestrian safety. The installation of special curb markings along a segment of Piney Branch Road -- the first of its kind in Maryland – was the focus. The markers indicate where it is and is not safe for pedestrians to cross the street. They remind us to think twice before crossing mid-block and risking injury or death.
In addition to engineering enhancements, education teams on the street are intervening when they see unsafe behaviors, and County Police are issuing tickets to drivers and pedestrians who are not obeying the law.
The County has moved aggressively since 2007 -- when the Executive introduced his Pedestrian Safety Initiative -- to reduce pedestrian collisions and to make the community safer for walkers, bikers, and motorists. In eight High Incidence Areas – including this Piney Branch corridor -- there was a 56 percent reduction in pedestrian collisions in 2010, when compared to the preceding five-year average. The severity of the collisions also declined.
County Kicks Off Pedestrian Safety Campaign at Piney Branch
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Safety Promotion Team member speaks with a pedestrian about walking safely |
Montgomery County kicked off a pedestrian safety campaign on November 7 at the Piney Branch High Incidence Area (HIA). The portion of Piney Branch Road (MD 320) between Flower Avenue (MD 787) and University Boulevard (MD 193) in Silver Spring has historically been the area with the highest number of pedestrian collisions in the county. In October 2008, a Pedestrian Road Safety Audit (PRSA) of this area was conducted in order to identify the major issues for pedestrians and potential engineering treatments to address those issues. The Piney Branch Road PRSA team identified a number of pedestrian safety issues in the study area, the most significant of which was uncontrolled mid-block crossings, which were prevalent and identified as one of the primary contributing factors to pedestrian collisions. Since completion of the PRSA in 2008, MCDOT and MDSHA have been working jointly in the implementation of safety-related engineering improvements within the Piney Branch HIA.
The pedestrian safety campaign that began on November 7 ran through mid-December and included both education and enforcement efforts. The first step of the initiative was the installation of curb markers , which discourage pedestrians
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Curb Markers on Piney Branch Road north of University Boulevard |
from crossing at unmarked locations and direct them to the crosswalks. These messages were reinforced by Safety Promotion Teams speaking with pedestrians on the street about safe pedestrian behavior (click here for information on how to be a safe pedestrian). The team members distributed pedestrian safety informational materials and visible neon green bags that included a safety message. Following the Safety Promotion Team effort, police began a targeted enforcement campaign in the area, focused on ticketing pedestrians and drivers who break the law.
The Piney Branch pedestrian safety initiative was also featured on November 14 during the StreetSmart 2011 kick-off event. The event highlighted the coordinated efforts of the County and State in improving the pedestrian environment in the area. Click here to see the press release from the event. For more information about the StreetSmart regional pedestrian safety campaign, please click here.
CountyStat Reviews Pedestrian Safety Initiative
The CountyStat program conducted its eighth review of progress on the County Executive’s Pedestrian Safety Initiative on Friday, August 26, 2011. The results were promising. There has been a recent trend of fewer pedestrian collisions and a decline in the severity of injuries resulting from collisions:
 15% County-wide Reduction in Pedestrian Collision
Reduction in Severity of Pedestrian Collisions
Fewer Pedestrian Fatalities
70% Decline of Collisions for Safe Routes to School
56% Decline of Collisions in High Incidence Areas
18% Decline of Collisions Where Traffic Calming Employed
Montgomery County is committed to achieving data-driven results to reduce the frequency and severity of pedestrian collisions. These periodic reviews have become a critical and valuable part of implementing the County Executive’s Pedestrian Safety Initiative. By reviewing data and information from the program, the County works to assure that effective strategies are being employed to improve pedestrian safety. Information evaluated in these reviews provides vital direction on how best to target activities that are reducing the number of pedestrian collisions in the County. A press release has been issued on the conclusions of this most recent CountyStat review.
Click here to view the presentation:
Previous CountyStat Review Presentations can be seen on the County’s CountyStat web site and are listed by dates of the review. Click on the dates to review the presentation:
Maryland State Highway Administration Approves Pedestrian Road Safety Audits for High Incidence Areas (HIAs)
The County has recently published seven (7) Pedestrian Road Safety Audit (PRSA) reports that summarize crash data, field observations, and suggested safety improvements along segments of roadways with the highest density of pedestrian and bicycle-related crashes - called High Incidence Areas (HIAs). Read More about these Pedestrian Road Safety Audits and how they are used to improve pedestrian safety.
The following six reports have undergone review and approval by MCDOT and MDSHA and may be viewed by clicking the links below:
Randolph Road Pedestrian Road Safety Audit
Georgia Avenue (MD 97) between Spring Street and Sligo Avenue
Piney Branch Road between Flower Avenue and Prince George's County Line
Four Corners - Intersections of University Boulevard and Colesville Road
Wisconsin Avenue between Leland Street and Montgomery Avenue
Reedie Drive between Georgia Avenue and Veirs Mill Road
Rockville Pike between Hubbard Drive and Halpine Drive
Pedestrian Safety Program Review
The MCDOT Director and staff, with the Montgomery County Police Department, presented an overview of the County’s Pedestrian Safety Program to the County Council back in October 2010. This Pedestrian Safety Program Review was requested by Council as an update on the progress of the County Executive’s Pedestrian Safety Initiative.
BIKE TO WORK DAY WAS MAY 20TH
Thousands of area commuters celebrated bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work!
Washington Area Bicyclist Assocation website
Tips to Ease into Bicycle Commuting
Biking Resources, Maps & Benefits
Pedestrian Safety Improvements on Hewitt Avenue
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett announced the completion of pedestrian improvements on Hewitt Avenue in Silver Spring that will enhance safety for transit users and the entire community. The innovative pedestrian protection improvements installed have successfully been used by the MCDOT in other locations and have proven to be effective in reducing motorist speeds, calming traffic and enhancing safety. Read More
Pedestrian Safety Featured at MACo Convention
Ocean City Convention Center, August 18-21, 2010
Jeff Dunckel and Tom Pogue of MCDOT staffed the Montgomery County display at the Maryland Association of Counties ( MACo) Convention in Ocean City, Maryland last August. More than 600 attendees visited the display to learn how Montgomery County is improving pedestrian safety. This year, County Executive Leggett chose the County's Pedestrian Safety Program as the featured topic for Montgomery County to highlight. This annual conference draws thousands of local, state and federal government officials.
Jeff Dunckel and Tom Pogue set up the County's display, featuring Pedestrians Safety, where more than 600 people stopped to discuss and learn about the County's program.
MCDOT Tells About Pedestrian Safety at the Maryland Municipal League (MML) Annual Convention, at the Ocean City Convention Center June 27-30, 2010
The MML Conference provided another chance to tell others about the County's Pedestrian Safety Programs. Jeff Dunckel, Pedestrian Safety Coordinator, and Tom Pogue, Community Outreach Manager were among the hundreds of city and town officials from throughout Maryland who gathered at the Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland to learn about and discuss municipal issues. They spoke with over 400 fellow city and town officials, discussing pedestrian safety in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County's Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Traffic Engineering Division is testing a new type of pedestrian-oriented traffic signal on Gude Drive in Rockville in an area that had a total of eight pedestrian collisions in 2008 and 2009. This new signal was installed in April 2010.
HAWK stands for High-intensity Activated crosswalk signal.
This new signal uses traditional traffic and pedestrian signal heads but in a different configuration. The effectiveness of this new type of signal is now being evaluated.
How it works: When not activated, the signal flashes yellow, allowing drivers to freely pass through the intersection with caution. It is activated when a pedestrian pushes the walk button. The HAWK signal begins flashing to indicate to drivers someone will be using the crosswalk. It then goes to solid red like a typical traffic signal, requiring drivers to stop at the crosswalk. Finally, the signal goes to flashing red, letting drivers know that after coming to a complete stop, they can proceed once the pedestrian has crossed safely. The signal then returns to the flashing yellow condition.
Street Smart Kick-off Makes Big Impact
Street Smart kicked off its 2010 Safety Awareness Campaign on Thursday, March 23, with a "Speed Kills" Demonstration higlighting pedestrian safety in Montgomery County. This very successful event was held at the intersection of Sligo Avenue and Chicago Avenue, in Silver Spring, Maryland. The demonstration graphically displayed how speeding eliminates the ability of drivers to avoid pedestrian collisions - - how driving the speed limit can save lives. The key message to be remembered from the demonstration is: Speed Kills - - obeying speed limits is a life-or-death obligation for all drivers. The consequences if you don't can be truly horrific. To see a video displaying this demonstration, go to the website: BeStreetSmart.net.
This 2010 Safety Awareness Campaign ended April 30, 2010. See Campaign Background Materials:
"Bobby", a mannequin the size of a 10-year-old child, is about to experience first hand the violence of a pedestrian collision. "Bobby" and his friend ponder the hazards of crossing the street in heavy traffic.
County Executive Leggett begins the demonstration with an explanation of why pedestrian and bicycle safety is so important for Montgomery County, and the entire region. Joining Mr. Leggett, from left to right, are Chief Jeri Lee, Metro Transit Police; Councilmember David Snyder, City of Falls Church; Chief J. Thomas Manger, Montgomery County Police Department; and Gloria Jeff, Associate Director of District of Columbia Department of Transportation.
After demonstrating at 25 mph the pickup can stop 10 feet short of pedestrian "Bobby", when the pickup's speed increases to 35 mph, "Bobby" is not so lucky - - he is about to be hit hard. Stopping distance doubles as speed increases just 10 mph.
Jeff Dunckel, Montgomery County's Pedestrian Safety Coordinator, describes the effects of crashing into "Bobby" at 35 mph - - nearly half the pedestrians hit at this speed die. The other half are injured, many seriously.
Next, "Bobby" steps in front the pickup traveling 40 mph. At 40 mph, the driver has virtually no time to react. The vehicle requires 60 feet to stop. Factor in reaction time, that stopping distance grows to 300 feet. Bobby is violently catapulted before the vehicle.
The grim faces of those who watch communicate how horrific a collision at 40 mph can be. The violence of the collision can only be experienced when you see it. Thankfully, the victim is only a mannequin and not a real 10-year old child. But everyone can imagine a more tragic reality
Jeff Dunckel explains that at 40 mph, crash victims are often knocked right out of their shoes; Dunckel draws the crowd's attention to the shoe still lodged under the vehicle and "Bobby's" belongings spewed across the pavement.
Struck by a pickup traveling 40 mph, "Bobby" lies on the pavement 20 feet in front of where the vehicle stops - - mangled, contorted, and badly broken. Eighty-five percent of pedestrians struck at 40 mph die; fifteen percent are badly injured, usually with life debilitating injuries. The chances of a pedestrian walking away from such a collision are zero.
Remember - Speed Kills.
Slow Down. Obey Speed Limits. Stay Alert.
BE STREET SMART!
 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.
Seven Locks Road Sidewalk and Bikeway (Montrose Road - Bradley Blvd)
Description: This project provides facility planning for hiker/biker facilities and missing sections of sidewalk on both sides of Seven Locks from Montrose Road to Bradley Blvd. Facility planning has identified how these needed sidewalks and pathways can be constructed. Once funding is approved by the County Council, the project can proceed.
This program encourages students to walk to school by providing safer routes through traffic engineering and enforcement efforts and pedestrian safety education and programming to students and parents.
Students & familes around the county walked & bicycled to school on October 6, 2010!
http://www.walktoschool.org/
 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.
One version of the video is for teenage students and the other for adult learners, including those who are non-native English speakers. Six stand-alone sections provide instruction in the basic steps drivers can take to reduce the risk of collisions with pedestrians. The video is accompanied by a Teacher's Guide (pdf) and worksheets for instructional activities and comprehension checks.
Help us evaluate the effectiveness of the video. Encourage new drivers to take the pre-survey (pdf) before they watch the video and then, after a week or two, take the post-survey (pdf).
Four Public Service Announcements (PSAs), each 30 seconds, promote pedestrian safety for new drivers.
Driver education schools, organizations, community groups and ESOL teachers may request a copy of the video by filling out a request form.
Walk Safe®: Keeping Pedestrians Safe in the "Danger Zone" is an English language instructional video designed to teach pedestrian safety concepts to non-native English speakers. Five stand-alone modules promote basic pedestrian safety concepts, identify risky behaviors and situations, and explain terms, expressions and signage. The video is accompanied by a Teacher's Guide (pdf), worksheets and tools that suggest activities and comprehension checks.
Help us evaluate the effectiveness of the video. Encourage viewers to take the pre-survey (pdf) before they watch the video and then, a week or two after, take the post-survey (pdf).
Pedestrian Safety Public Service Announcements (PSAs) of varying lengths promote pedestrian safety concepts to the general public.
Organizations, ESOL teachers, and community groups may request a copy of the video by filling out a request form or call 240-777-7155.
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