Last Year, Nearly One-Third of Pedestrian Collisions Occurred in Parking Lots/Garages
In time for the holiday shopping season, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett launched an education campaign to address the growing number of pedestrian collisions occurring in parking lots and garages in Montgomery County. In 2012, parking lot and garage collisions comprised nearly one-third of all pedestrian collisions in the County. What is even more surprising was the finding that nearly 20 percent of the lot/garage collisions in 2012 resulted in severe, debilitating injuries -- the same percentage as road collisions.The educational campaign’s slogan, “Heads Up in Parking Lots,” features the message: “Don’t run over people. Don’t get run over.”
Leggett launched the education campaign at Dawson’s Market in Rockville Town Center, which is managed by Federal Realty. Immediately following the press event, police officers and firefighters kicked off their holiday season safety campaign, “Shop with a Cop or Firefighter,” by distributing reusable shopping bags and parking lot safety tips to store customers. Through Christmas, police and firefighters will visit some of the County’s busiest shopping areas to remind customers to practice safe driving and walking behaviors in parking lots.
To find ways to bring safety messages directly to drivers and pedestrians in parking lots, the County has partnered with retail property managers and owners. The partners are featured on the County’s website.
Leggett’s expansion of his original Pedestrian Safety Initiative is titled Pedestrian Safety Initiative: Reducing Collisions in Parking Lots and Garages. The strategic plan recommends five strategies to reduce parking lot and garage collisions.
See the County’s website for more information about the Heads Up in Parking Lots campaign.
