Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530,
Al Genetti, 240-777-7170, William O'Toole, 240-773-5030

For Immediate Release: January 11, 2002

Duncan Takes Steps to Improve Pedestrian Safety Around
Northwest High School

At a press conference today held at the scene of Wednesday's tragic student fatality at Northwest High School, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan took immediate steps toward preventing additional pedestrian fatalities. Great Seneca Highway is a state road, but Duncan brought in County staff to make changes that he hopes will discourage pedestrians from making dangerous crossings.

"Yesterday, I sent a letter to Secretary Porcari asking him to take steps to prevent another tragedy at Northwest High School, but in the meantime I have directed my staff to take immediate, temporary action to improve safety" said Duncan. "The urgency of this situation requires us to quickly do whatever we can to keep pedestrians safe."

Duncan ordered the following measures:

· Immediate installation of snow fencing to block pedestrians from crossing Great Seneca Highway at unsafe locations. About 800 feet of snow fencing was installed this afternoon, and the rest of the fencing will be put in place over the weekend.

· Installation of variable message signs along Great Seneca Highway that display a pedestrian safety message. These signs were also put in place this afternoon.

· Enactment of an enforcement and education sweep by Montgomery County Police next week along Great Seneca Highway. Police will continue ongoing efforts to educate the public about safe driving and walking practices by cracking down on areas in the County that have the worst pedestrian and traffic safety records. They will intensively enforce traffic and pedestrian safety laws along Great Seneca Highway.

Yesterday, Duncan sent a letter to Maryland Secretary of Transportation John D. Porcari urging him to erect barriers to prevent pedestrians from unsafely crossing Great Seneca Highway and remove the unsafe crosswalk at Cottage Garden Drive and Queenstown Lane.

A 15-year old student from Northwest High School was killed on Wednesday while she attempted to cross Great Seneca Highway mid-block.