Progress on Pedestrian Safety Noted at County Stat Review

An analysis at a May 8, 2013 CountyStat review of Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett's Pedestrian Safety Initiative showed that County efforts to improve pedestrian safety are having a positive effect. In 2012, the most sever collisions resulting in debilitating injury (Level 4) or death (Level 5) decreased by 20 percent and fatalities dropped to an all-time low of .6 per 100,000 people. This fatality rate is one of the lowest in the nation according to 2011 national data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The reductions in collisions are most notable in areas around schools improved in the Safe Routes to School program, the County's High Incidence Areas (locations targeted as having the highest density of collisions) and locations where traffic calming measures have been completed. 

Other program trends noted in the CountyStat review included:

• An 85% reduction in collisions for Safe Routes to School
• A 37% reduction in pedestrian collisions in the County's High Incidence Areas
• An increase in the number of pedestrian collisions where drivers are at fault
• A 29% increase in pedestrian collisions countywide from 2011 to 2012, primarily attributable to parking lot collisions
• 29% of the pedestrian collisions in 2012 occurred in parking lots 

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 survey. 


Click below to view the presentation:

Previous CountyStat Review Presentations can be seen on the County’s CountyStat web site.