Leggett Seeks Applicants for Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee

County Executive Isiah Leggett is seeking applicants to fill four public member vacancies, including one member who represents people with disabilities, on the Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee. The incumbent representing people with disabilities is eligible to apply for reappointment.

The 17-member Advisory Committee includes six government representatives, one public school representative, one Maryland Municipal League representative, and nine general public members who represent various regions of Montgomery County, including one member representing advocates of bicycling, and one member representing people with disabilities.

This Committee provides advice to the County Executive, County Council, and elected officials on implementation of the County’s Pedestrian Safety Initiative, priorities and needs in the area of pedestrian and bicycle safety and access, gathers information on pedestrian and bicycle safety, and identifies any new issues that may emerge.

Members serve three-year terms without compensation, but are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for meetings attended. Meetings generally are held every other month on weekday evenings. All members are also expected to serve on various sub-committees, and these meetings will be held as needed. For more information, please see the County Website Page for the Committee:

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-pedsafety/index.html

Application Process

County Executive Isiah Leggett is committed to representation on all of the County’s boards, committees, and commissions that is reflective of, and responsive to, our County’s residents. Public participation contributes to the work of County government and provides an important service to the community when a variety of issues, concerns, and viewpoints are presented. 

Applicants of diverse backgrounds, professions, gender, geography, disability and ethnicity are encouraged to apply. An application, consisting of a brief cover letter and resume, should be sent by mail to County Executive Isiah Leggett, 101 Monroe Street, 2nd Floor, Rockville, MD  20850, or by email to countyexecutive.boards@montgomerycountymd.gov. Home and employment addresses, as well as contact phone numbers and email addresses should be included. If appropriate, applicants should indicate the position for which they are applying.  The application deadline is July 11, 2014. 

Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Members of these boards are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for meetings attended. Leggett’s appointments are generally subject to confirmation by the County Council. Applications of individuals selected for appointment to groups that are confirmed by the Council are made public as part of the confirmation process.

Texting and Walking Results in More Injuries Per Mile Than Texting and Driving

A new study found that texting while walking causes more injuries per mile than texting while driving. Many studies have focused on the dangerous consequences of texting while driving. However, researchers found that texting and walking can be far more dangerous as they cause more injuries per mile. The consequences of texting include bumping into walls, falling down stairs, tripping over clutter or stepping into traffic, according to a press statement. Researchers pointed out that even though injuries from texting and driving are more severe, physical harm resulting from texting and walking occurs more frequently. People who text and walk face three types of distractions. The first one is manual where they're doing something else, the second one is visual where they're seeing something else and the third one is cognitive where their mind is somewhere else.

To see the full article, click here.

(Source for national data: Headline and Global News, March 4, 2014, as reported in the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety eNewsletter, March 14, 2014.)

Nationally, Pedestrian Deaths Drop After Three-Year Rise

After three straight years of increases that baffled experts, the number of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in the U.S. appears to be dropping. Compared with the first six months of 2012, pedestrian deaths fell 8.7 percent during the first six months of 2013, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) says, citing preliminary data reported to the federal government by the states and the District of Columbia. There were 1,985 pedestrians killed in crashes in the first half of last year, down from 2,175 in January through June of 2012. Pedestrian fatality data for all of 2013 is expected later this year. Pedestrian safety experts, who were puzzled by the 15 percent, three-year jump in deaths—given it came while all other categories of road fatalities were dropping three percent—are just as stumped by the recent decline.

Click here to see the GHSA's full report.

In Montgomery County, pedestrian deaths have totalled 11 in 2011, 6 in 2012, and 13 in 2013. The four year average (2010-2013) stands at 10.8, which is significantly below the three year average prior to the County Executive's Pedestrian Safety Initiative of 16.7 fatalities (2007-2009).

(Source for national data: USA Today, March 5, 2014, as reported in the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety eNewsletter, March 14, 2014. Local data from MCPD.)

Pedestrian Safety Volunteers Needed

We have been working with a group of fabulous volunteers in the Wheaton area, who have helped us spread the word to the community about how to be a safe pedestrian, and how drivers can keep pedestrians safe. We are looking forward to developing a similar volunteer group in other areas where collisions are most frequent. 

The County’s Pedestrian Safety Initiative uses a three-pronged approach that coordinates Engineering, Education, and Enforcement with the intention of influencing pedestrian and driver behavior. You can learn more about our program by visiting our website: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/walk.  As a volunteer, you will work with us to spread the pedestrian safety message. Prior to participating in outreach activities, we will provide a training session to explain the program and the core messages we communicate to the public. 

How do you become a pedestrian safety volunteer? Send an email to Shelley Johnson at the Department of Transportation, indicating your interest: shelley.johnson2@montgomerycountymd.gov or call her at 240-777-2112.

To view the Pedestrian Safety Volunteer Training Presentation, click here.  

We hope you decide to join our group and help to make our streets and sidewalks safer!

County Council Pedestrian Safety Program Update Highlights Improvements to Pedestrian Safety

On September 24, 2013, Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation presented to the County Council updates from the successful Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Programs. The programs use data-driven approaches to increase bicycle and pedestrian safety throughout the county.

The Bicycle Safety Program completed evaluations of BikeShare routes, the most recent addition to the county’s extensive transportation network, to address challenges the county’s existing roadways pose for bikers. After thorough analysis of potential bike routes, many bicycle  engineering improvements were made to both on-road and off-road facilities across the county.

The Pedestrian Safety Initiative, introduced in December 2007, coordinates engineering, education and enforcement efforts to change pedestrian and driver behavior. The program uses a data-driven approach to target efforts in areas with the highest rates of pedestrian collisions, also known as High Incidence Areas (HIAs). Engineering efforts in HIAs include: sidewalk improvement, intersection and signal reconstruction, pedestrian refuge construction, street lighting, and curb markings.  Since beginning program implementation in 2009, pedestrian collisions in these HIAs have decreased by 43%. 

Traffic calming, another major part of the Pedestrian Safety Initiative, has reduced collision rates by 50% by reducing speeds to posted speed limits.

The Safe Routes to School program conducted comprehensive school zone traffic safety assessments in over 160 schools and subsequently implemented engineering, education and enforcement actions. Since 2009, there has been a 79% reduction in the number of pedestrian collisions within a ¼ mile radius of these schools.

Following the data-driven methodology, education efforts have been modified to reflect recent data trends. From 2010 to 2012, there have been 172 pedestrian collisions within ½ mile of Montgomery County’s High Schools, of which 30 involved 13-18 year olds. This fall, the county is launching a High School Pedestrian Safety Education Campaign, which analyzes crash data to target and work directly with high schools’ administration and staff.

In 2012, there was a 39% increase in the number of pedestrian collisions in parking lots and garages; representing 30% of all the county’s pedestrian collisions. The county has launched the Parking Lot Pedestrian Safety Education Campaign, which works directly with the private property owners and managers operating parking lots to raise public awareness of the need exercise caution and to keep “Heads Up” in Parking Lots. 

Enforcement efforts, led by the Montgomery County Police Department, have given out 600 warnings and 1,600 citations in HIAs to drivers and pedestrians, while over 80 warnings and 400 citations have been given out through crosswalk sting operations. Recent results in the enforcement efforts show increased court support for citations, media’s expanded role in raising awareness, citations being more effective over warnings, and residents being active in participating in pre-enforcement education activities. Since 2011, when expanded enforcement efforts began, there has been an increase in drivers found at fault in pedestrian collisions and a decrease in pedestrians found at fault: drivers are found at fault in 59% of reported pedestrian collisions.

As serious pedestrian collisions have continued to decrease where actions have been targeted, the County continues to focus on improving safe bicycle access on county roads, and coordinating enforcement, education and engineering efforts to improve pedestrian safety. Also, the county continues to cooperate and coordinate their efforts with the Pedestrian, Bicycle and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee. 

To view the presentation, click below:

Montgomery al Día Radio Show Focuses on Pedestrian Safety



Montgomery Al Día Radio Show

Lorna Virgilí hosts "Montgomery al Día", Montgomery County's Spanish language live Radio Show on Radio América 1540 AM, Tuesdays at 2pm. On this show, she speaks with Jeff Dunckel, Pedestrian Safety Coordinator, from the Department of Transportation. The show addresses pedestrian safety issues around the County, including the recent uptick in pedestrian collisions and fatalities and how residents can stay safe when walking.  To see the episode, click here. 

Webinar Features Montgomery County's Pedestrian Safety Program

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership in the Greater Washington region hosted a webinar on June 5 about Montgomery County’s approach to improving pedestrian safety. Speakers shared data detailing the results of the program and discussed engineering, education and enforcement efforts that are reducing the severity of pedestrian collisions and the number of collisions in targeted, high risk areas. 

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett released a strategic plan in December 2007 to improve pedestrian safety that uses a multifaceted approach. Speakers discussed the use of data to guide program priorities; the role of road audits and targeted infrastructure improvements; pairing education with engineering and enforcement; successes in the Safe Routes to School program; and the integral role of law enforcement. 

The Safe Routes to School Greater Washington region is a partnership of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Click below to view the Webinar:

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. 

County Executive’s State of the County speech included transportation topics

Speaking before hundreds of County residents at the Silver Spring Civic Building Wednesday night (February 20th), County Executive Ike Leggett said that, “the state of Montgomery County is strong – and growing stronger. We all are fortunate to live in one of the nation’s best places to raise a family, get an education, earn a living and build a business. Most of America would change places with us in a heartbeat.” It was the first time in recent years that the Executive has given a State of the County speech.  Read More

Leggett Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary of His Pedestrian Safety Initiative; Efforts are Reducing Collisions and Saving Lives

On December 17, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett celebrated the five-year anniversary of his December 2007 Pedestrian Safety Initiative, which for the first time provided a blueprint for action to improve pedestrian safety based on measurable strategies. Since 2009, pedestrian collisions have decreased 12 percent and the most severe collisions, those where pedestrians are incapacitated or killed, has declined 21 percent.

“In 2007, we charted a course to dramatically improve pedestrian safety and accessibility in Montgomery County – a course that is proving to be successful,” said Leggett. “We are seeing significant reductions in pedestrian collisions in areas where we have taken a comprehensive and targeted approach. Every resident deserves a truly walkable community where pedestrians can safely cross the street. Our challenge in the future is to continually reassess what we are doing, keep what’s working well and find new and creative ways to significantly expand our pedestrian safety efforts.”

The Initiative outlined an approach to pedestrian and traffic safety that focused on three essential components: education, engineering and enforcement. The Initiative significantly enhanced the County’s investment in educating motorists and pedestrians, keeping enforcement efforts visible and intensive and aggressively applying the most innovative and pedestrian-friendly road engineering designs.

To fulfill Leggett’s vision for increased pedestrian mobility and safety, the Initiative established goals to:
• Reduce pedestrian-related crashes, injuries, fatalities, and their associated social and economic costs; and
• Ensure that all areas of the County provide safe and convenient travel options for pedestrians.

Some of the achievements of the Initiative include:
• Reducing pedestrian fatalities from a high of 19 fatalities in 2008 to 11 last year and six so far this year.
• Reducing pedestrian collisions 12 percent since 2009.
• Reducing the most severe collisions that incapacitate or kill pedestrians 21 percent since 2009.
• Reducing collisions 35 percent in areas where traffic calming measures have been installed.
• Reducing collisions by 45 percent In High Incidence Areas (HIAs), locations with the highest concentrations of collisions.
• Reducing collisions by 72 percent within a quarter mile of schools targeted for engineering, education and enforcement activities under the Safe Routes to Schools program.
 
Mr. Leggett was joined at the event by County Councilmember Valerie Ervin, County Councilmember Hans Riemer, Department of Transportation Director Arthur Holmes, Police Chief Thomas Manger, Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Scott Graham, and PBTSAC Chair Erwin Mack. 
Click here for the press release, including additional statistics on the results of the initiative.  Click here to view the Transportation Update on the event. 
For articles about the event, please click below:
WJLA
The Gazette
WTOP
Bethesda Now

Pedestrian Safety at the Maryland Municipal League (MML) Annual Convention

The MML (Maryland Municipal League) Conference provided another chance to tell others about the County's Pedestrian Safety Programs. Jeff Dunckel, Pedestrian Safety Coordinator, and Tom Pogue, Community Outreach Manager were among the hundreds of city and town officials from throughout Maryland who gathered at the Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland to learn about and discuss municipal issues. They spoke with over 400 fellow city and town officials, discussing pedestrian safety in Montgomery County.

Pedestrian Safety Program County Council Review

The MCDOT Director and staff, with the Montgomery County Police Department, presented an overview of the County’s Pedestrian Safety Program to the County Council back in October 2010. This Pedestrian Safety Program Review was requested by Council as an update on the progress of the County Executive’s Pedestrian Safety Initiative.

Pedestrian Safety Featured at MACo Convention

Jeff Dunckel and Tom Pogue of MCDOT staffed the Montgomery County display at the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Convention in Ocean City, Maryland last August. More than 600 attendees visited the display to learn how Montgomery County is improving pedestrian safety. This year, County Executive Leggett chose the County's Pedestrian Safety Program as the featured topic for Montgomery County to highlight. This annual conference draws thousands of local, state and federal government officials.