Roshdieh and Conklin Visit Stone Mill Elementary School to View MCDOT Safety Improvements Requested by Students

MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh and Deputy Director Chris Conklin Visit Mrs. Glaser's class

MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh and Deputy Director for Policy Chris Conklin visited a third-grade class at Stone Mill Elementary School in North Potomac after MCDOT made pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements requested by the students. Read more.

Letter from Students to County Council

Pedestrian Refuge Island and Newly Installed ADA Ramps

Montgomery County Receives $244,000 to Encourage Safe Driving

According to a recent article in the Baltimore Sun by Colin Campbell, the Montgomery County Police Department received $235,000 and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office received $9,000 in federal grants to encourage safe driving. This follows a report that roadway deaths in Maryland increased by 17 percent in 2015.

Spring Means More Walking and Biking: Follow These Tips to Stay Safe

The flowers are blooming and the weather is getting warmer. Whether walking, biking, or driving — more people want to be outside.  Stay safe when spending time outdoors. The Street Smart campaign offers the following safety tips.

If you’re driving . . .

·         Look twice for people in crosswalks and yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.

·         Be careful when passing stopped vehicles.

·         Yield to pedestrians and cyclists at intersections when you're turning.

·         Allow three feet when passing bicyclists.

·         Look for cyclists and cars before you open your door.

·         Slow down and obey the speed limit. 

·         Avoid using your cell phone while driving. 

If you’re walking . . .

·         Cross the street at the corner and use marked crosswalks when they’re available.

·         Wait for the “Walk” signal to cross the street.

·         Before crossing look left, right, and left again.

·         Be seen! If you’re walking after dark or in bad weather, make it easier for drivers to see you by wearing light clothing or something reflective.

·         Don’t text while you’re crossing the street.

·         If you’re on an off-street trail, obey all posted signage and approach intersections with caution.

If you’re biking . . .

·         Obey all traffic signs and traffic lights.

·         Ride in the direction of traffic, at least a car-door-width away from parked cars.

·         Use hand signals so drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians know what you’re going to do.

·         Always wear a helmet.

·         Use lights if you’re riding in the dark.

·         If you’re on an off-street trail, obey all posted signage and approach intersections with caution.

Public Safety Chiefs Urge Public to “Be Safer this Holiday Season;” Be Safe, Be Seen, Be Responsible

Police Chief Tom Manger and Fire Chief Scott Goldstein urged community members to “Be Safer this Holiday Season,” and to “Be Seen, Be Alert, and Be Responsible.” As of November 24, there have been 33 fatal traffic collisions in Montgomery County in which 34 people lost their lives. Read more.

Department of Liquor Control Promotes Local Designated Driving Program “Be My Designated Driver”

In an effort to help prevent drunk driving in Montgomery County, the Department of Liquor Control (DLC) is partnering with a local transportation service to offer $20 gift cards towards a designated driver this holiday season.

The “Be My Designated Driver” (Be My DD) program, the nation’s largest designated driver service, provides an alternative using professional drivers who drive your vehicle for you. Fully-screened and fully-insured, BeMyDD’s drivers have over 10 years of driving experience and arrive dressed in professional attire. Hourly personal driver services range from $14-$19.50 an hour (depending on location). BeMyDD also provides car pickup services for $25 plus mileage. Read more.

MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator Participates in International Panel; Wins Two Grants

 

MCDOT's Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Coordinator Nadji Kirby was part of an international panel on Bike Safety at the Safe Kids Worldwide Conference held at National Harbor this summer.  Her presentation focused on Montgomery County’s Safe Routes to School bike safety education program and how various partnerships have been instrumental to its success. 

As SRTS Coordinator, Kirby collaborates with other County departments, Montgomery County Public Schools, PTA’s, student groups, and non-profits to develop, promote, and implement pedestrian and bicycle safety education and encouragement programs. She also serves as Co-Coordinator for Safe Kids Montgomery County. 

The County’s SRTS program also won two grants through Safe Kids to support this year’s Walk to School Day and Halloween Safety activities. 

Safe Kids Worldwide is a global organization dedicated to preventing injuries in children. Read more about Safe Kids Worldwide. 

Police Conducting Distracted Driving Enforcements; Reminds Drivers to Give Cyclists Plenty of Space While Passing

On Saturday, September 26, Montgomery Police 2^nd District Commander Falcinelli sent area residents a community message about safety that included a caution about distracted driving, which he said is one of the biggest offenses contributing to crashes. To reduce collisions, Montgomery County Police are conducting cell phone enforcement operations. Two already completed along River Road resulted in more than fifty citations/warnings. Learn more about Maryland’s laws that prohibit using handheld cell phones while driving. 

Falcinelli also shared the information that a highly valued member of our community recently lost his life in a tragic cycling crash. He reminded motorists to obey Maryland law giving cyclists three feet of space when passing. Read more about bike safety and Maryland’s bicycle laws.

AAA Says Six in 10 Crashes Caused by Distracted Driving

(Article Source: CBS Baltimore, March 25, 2015)

A new study gives a rare glimpse to what goes on when teens take the wheel. Traffic officials say teen drivers have the highest crash rate out of any age group. Their distraction is more severe than ever reported and now a series of videos proves it. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety partnered with the University of Iowa to study the behind-the-wheel behavior of 16 to 19-year-old drivers. Researchers examined nearly 7,000 videos from cameras mounted in vehicles showing what drivers were doing seconds before impact and what was happening on the road. The study reveals distractions were a factor in 58% of crashes. Using a cell phone is behind many close calls. Looking away from the road or talking with passengers also led to collisions.

See the full article with a link to a video compilation of teen distracted driving crashes online.

Teens Continue to be at Risk Crossing Streets While Texting

High school students can't put their phones down, even when crossing a dangerous street. A new study quantifies just how often kids walk while distracted by technology. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, one in five high school students and one in eight middle school students cross the street while doing something with a digital device.

Pedestrian injuries among teenagers, in particular, have been on the rise, increasing 25% in the last five years in the 16-19 year-old age group. Crossing streets while staring at a screen is one suggested reason. Listening to music and texting were the top distractions. Thirty-nine percent of the students who were crossing the street while distracted were typing on a cell phone and another 39 percent were listening to headphones. Girls were a little more likely to walk distractedly than boys, but just barely.

(Source: WNYC.org, August 29, 2013 as cited in the NETS eNewsletter, September, 2013. To see the full article, go to the WNYC website.)

MCDOT Installs Traffic Calming Project on Brunett Avenue to Improve Pedestrian Safety

Residents concerned about speeding traffic on Brunett Avenue between Guilford Street and Bruce Drive in Silver Spring asked the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) to do something to improve safety for pedestrian. This spring, contractors installed new, concrete median islands; marked crosswalks along Brunett Avenue; installed curb, gutter and sidewalk modifications to ensure ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance; and completed minor roadway repairs.

Residents concerned about pedestrian safety in their neighborhoods who would like to request a traffic study may contact the MCDOT Division of Traffic Engineering by email or in writing at: The Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Engineering, 100 Edison Park Drive, 4th Floor, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Provide contact information, include the location of concern and describe the safety issues.

Police and MCDOT Work Together to Calm Traffic and Reduce Collisions

Speeding and unsafe driving practices on residential streets continue to concern County residents and  the government agencies charged with ensuring traffic safety. Excessive speeds jeopardize both the safety and “liveability” of neighborhoods. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Department of Police have cooperated to implemented a comprehensive residential speed control program that enlists the help of community residents to solve speeding problems and improve the residential environment. The program includes the three components necessary to successfully reduce speeding: education, engineering and enforcement.

MCDOT has completed construction on several road projects that contain traffic calming elements, including:

• Franklin Avenue between Colesville Road and Flower Avenue in Silver Spring.  This project, coordinated with the scheduled resurfacing of Franklin Avenue, includes pedestrian refuge islands, bump-outs, new pavement markings and new crosswalks.   
• The Wisteria Drive / Waring Station Road project consisted of a series of bump-outs, pedestrian refuge islands, crosswalks and bus stop improvements. 
• Jones Bridge Road pedestrian improvements extending from the North Chevy Chase Elementary School to Jones Mill Road.  
• Cedar Lane/Summit Avenue, between Beach Drive and Knowles Avenue, included pedestrian refuge islands, bump-outs and new crosswalks.
• Spartan Road, between Georgia Avenue and MD 108, included pedestrian refuge islands, bump-outs and new crosswalks.

For information on MCDOT traffic calming measures, visit the Division of Traffic Engineering and Operations’ website.  For information on safe walking, visit MCDOT’s pedestrian safety website.