Pedestrian Safety Campaign Kicks Off
More Than 30 Pedestrians are Killed, 1,000 are Injured Each Year in Greater Washington Area
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The top elected officials from the District of Columbia and Montgomery and Fairfax counties gathered on a major commuting route -- for both drivers and pedestrians -- to kick off a regional public awareness campaign for pedestrian safety.
"Too often, drivers don't look out for pedestrians and pedestrians don't look out drivers," noted District Mayor Anthony Williams from the 14th and U Streets, NW, news conference. "That combination is always dangerous and frequently deadly. We all need to 'think about the impact we could make' whenever we set out on foot or in a vehicle."
The campaign is designed to focus attention on the prevalence of pedestrian-related fatalities and injuries in the region. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that a pedestrian is killed or injured every seven minutes on our nation's roadways.
"With the return to Standard Time at the end of the month and with school in full swing, more pedestrians will be on the streets even as the number of hours of daylight dwindles," commented Kate Hanley, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. "That's why this campaign is especially needed now."
Statistically, more pedestrians are injured or killed in October, November, December and January each year than any other time of the year.
Nationally, pedestrian fatalities have risen the past two years after nearly a decade of steady decline. In the Metropolitan Washington-area, approximately 30 pedestrians die each year and more than one thousand are injured. Most pedestrian fatalities in the region occur in normal weather conditions (89 percent) and at night (65 percent).
Recently, a 50-year-old female pedestrian was struck and killed in the 1000 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW. Underscoring the need for the awareness campaign, the victim was in a crosswalk, it was 1:38 p.m. and the driver had run a red light.
"Our region has unique pedestrian safety challenges that must be addressed with a very tailored approach," said Doug Duncan, county executive of Montgomery County. "We are among the most 'international' regions in the nation -- and many first-generation Americans are settling in our suburbs. In addition, the greater Washington area is the 8th most popular US tourist destination."
The campaign targets both pedestrians and drivers, and includes information about devices designed to enhance pedestrian safety, such as important points for the use of crosswalks, pedestrian warning signs, pedestrian signals and reflective materials for nighttime safety. Reaching Latino audiences is a key emphasis of the awareness program, with radio ads and print ads and pamphlets in Spanish.
Nighttime visibility is one of the most important pedestrian safety issues -- national statistics show that almost 50 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and midnight. The campaign encourages schoolchildren and the public to carry a flashlight and wear reflective materials when walking at night or early in the morning when it is dark.
Each of these local government entities has developed a pedestrian safety program. All three programs focus on public awareness/education and physical improvements at crosswalks to include improved striping, lighting and signage. In Montgomery County, it's called "Street Smart." Information on this program can be found on the Internet at www.montgomerycountymd.gov. In the District, the "PedSafe" program is developing pedestrian safety information materials for schools and the general public. Fairfax County has established a County Pedestrian Program Manager and works with citizens groups such as "Safe Crossings" to improve pedestrian safety along the busy U.S. Route 1 corridor.
Fairfax County
