Each year, 400 pedestrians are hit by vehicles in Montgomery County. Pedestrians from the age of 20 to 29 are the most vulnerable to the risk of severe injury or death. Most of these incidents happen in the evening. In a three-week span in January 2020, three pedestrians were killed, causing a push by Montgomery County citizens to increase measures done to ensure pedestrian safety.
The majority of the 400 pedestrians are children. The “APS” wrote an article about children who get hit by many cars. The article says “[G]etting hit by a car is the third leading cause of death for kids 5- to 9-years-old, and kids up to age 15 make up a disproportionate number of pedestrian casualties worldwide.” The article also adds that children are easily distracted and don’t always pay attention. They are also smaller, so they’re more likely to sustain fatal injuries when they are hit. This shows that this is a very serious situation that is affecting the next generation.
Many people have heard about the saying, “Look both ways before you cross the street!”. Although they hear it constantly, many kids choose to ignore that and not look. But they don’t realize the fact that they are risking their lives by making that choice.
In response, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) leaders held a meeting to address proposals to reconfigure an intersection and add a bike lane to prevent further incidents. This demonstrates the public concern for pedestrian safety and the importance of finding a solution.
Montgomery County has attempted to prevent pedestrian injuries with “Vision Zero,” a call for action to reach the goal of zero pedestrian deaths in Montgomery County by 2030. “Vision Zero” includes more High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) beacons. These beacons are found to lead to a 29% reduction in total crashes, a 69% reduction in pedestrian crashes, and a 15% reduction in severe crashes. Moreover, the plan includes the Mid-Atlantic Region’s First Protected Intersection – This type of intersection includes corner islands that reduce the distance of crossing the street for pedestrians and force drivers to slow down. Finally, the plan mandates more crossing time for pedestrians, 26 pedestrian, and bikeway projects; as well as 4 new pedestrian beacons and Pedestrian safety improvements along Middlebrook and Bel Pre roads.
Montgomery County executive Mark Elrich has recommended a budget of $266.6 million for Vision Zero projects, $9.3 million for pedestrian safety initiatives, $4.2 million for sidewalk programs, and $4.5 million for safety, mobility, and accessibility near Purple Line stations from 2021-2026.
In conjunction with “Vision Zero” and the combined efforts of the Fire and Rescue Service, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), the CountyStat program and the Office of Public Information, the “Be Safe, Be Seen” campaign hopes to educate citizens about pedestrian safety in Montgomery County. This initiative includes “safety events at bus stations throughout the County […] to reach people who may be walking to or from bus stops in the dark; safety education brochures distributed on Ride On buses; outreach at high schools with the highest numbers of students who walk to and from school; efforts directed toward new drivers at all County high schools; distribution of literature in English and Spanish offering safety tips; distribution of reflective items and glow sticks to increase visibility for cyclists and walkers; and extra enforcement of driver violations that impact pedestrian rights-of-way.”
Moreover, the Pedestrian Road Safety Audit Program has audited numerous High Incidence Areas (HIA) along with the Maryland State Highway Administration. The audits have focused on lighting, signals, pavement markings, sidewalks, and signage improvements to advance the safety of pedestrians.
Additionally, the Montgomery County Bicycle Master Plan looks to encourage Bicycling while improving safety standards. This includes proposing a network of safe bicycling paths for all ages to connect certain destinations, a new bikeway classification system to rate the path’s separation from traffic, increased bicycle parking stations, and an outreach program to educate the public on cycling. Similar to the Bicycle Master Plan, the Montgomery County Pedestrian Master hopes to use data to recommend a better pedestrian network and increased access for those with disabilities.
Finally, the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan includes a proposal of 11 corridors to be connected by transit, and the Master Plan of Highways and Transit provides “guidance and tools for transportation improvements. The master plan encapsulates all existing and planned transportation facilities, and preserves planned rights-of-way to accommodate future transportation systems, including highways, transitways, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities.”
Progress has been made. Despite 50,000 new residents in Montgomery County since 2013, the number of pedestrian fatalities (including cyclists and vehicle occupants) per year has averaged at around 30. In perspective, the nationwide average pedestrian fatalities have increased, and Montgomery County has the lowest pedestrian fatality rate in the DC area,
However, as Wade Holland, coordinator of Vision Zero said, “There are more people, more driving, cheaper gas, and we’re actually holding steady on our numbers, but it’s not Vision Hold Steady, it’s Vision Zero. While we’re not seeing the increase [of fatalities] that we’re seeing nationwide, we know we can do better [ …] This is a matter of life and death.”
If the residents of Montgomery County want to fix this situation in the local community, urging people to make sure they are careful while crossing the street is vital. Additionally, drivers should always follow the law: pedestrians first.
Article by Tiffany Lu and Alex Zhang of Cabin John Middle School
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons