Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Citations dropped by more than 50 percent at some Rockville intersections in less than a year.
While not necessarily the most popular new traffic safety measure among those ticketed, the red light camera initiative in Rockville has produced an impressive drop in violations at the city’s busiest intersections, according to Rockville Police Chief T.N. Treschuk. “With anything like this, there are going to be mixed reviews,” said Treschuk. “Obviously, the people who receive the tickets aren’t happy, but the people who see those drivers run red lights are happy to see them get caught.” As of May 7, there were five fatal pedestrian-related incidents in Montgomery County. Rockville's red light cameras are aimed at changing poor driving practices, such as running red lights and improper right-on-red turns, thatcontribute to pedestrian …
Using red light and speed cameras, targeted stings and other methods, police departments and municipalities hope to prevent pedestrian-related accidents, after a number of fatalities.
Pedestrian-related accidents have seen an unfortunate increase recently, particularly in Montgomery County. There have been 14 pedestrian accidents just this year, five of which resulted in fatalities. There was even one incident in Bethesda where a car struck an infant in a stroller being pushed across a crosswalk. “We, the parents of students attending Bethesda Elementary School, are horrified by the number of traffic accidents and near-accidents in and around downtown Bethesda,” said an online petition launched by Bethesda elementary school parents. “The safety of this walkable haven is at risk.” While there haven’t been as many pedestrian-related deaths in Prince George’s County this year, College Park officials recognize that …
How many traffic cameras are there in towns with fatal accidents in the last three years?
Since 2011, 24 pedestrians have died in an accident with a car. Where are these accidents happening, and how many traffic cameras are in place in those towns?
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Will Montgomery County police stings improve pedestrian safety?
Montgomery County residents took to the Montgomery County Police Department Facebook page to express their opinions about pedestrian enforcement stings that began Wednesday. From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, county police issued 72 citations for pedestrian safety infractions at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Turkey Branch Parkway in Aspen Hill, police said in a news release posted on the Facebook page. Lesli King Brown posted her wish for constant enforcement: "If only there was enough police enforcement available to to it all over the county all the time." The enforcement should go both ways, posted Wayne Lim of Silver Spring: "OK, all that sounded good. However how many pedestrians were ticketed for jay walking or running …
Friday, March 29, 2013
Police were stationed at three Gaithersburg intersections promoting pedestrian safety for both walkers and drivers.
In hope of preventing another fatal incident involving a pedestrian, Gaithersburg police took to three high-risk intersections to promote pedestrian safety to walkers and drivers alike. On March 26, from 4-9 p.m., Gaithersburg officers were stationed at Clopper Road at Firstfield Road, Route 355 at Odend Hal Avenue and Great Seneca Highway at Orchard Ridge Drive, according to a news release. The focus was on pedestrians not properly using crosswalks, drivers failing to stop at clearly marked stop lines and drivers failing to yield to pedestrians. Drivers and pedestrians observed in violation received either a citation or a pre-printed warning. Officers issued 131 warnings and nine traffic citations to both pedestrians and drivers and …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
See where pedestrian and bike collisions happen.
Just 10 weeks into 2013, Montgomery County Patch.com websites have reported 12 vehicle collisions involving pedestrians or bicyclists. Four pedestrians and one bicyclist were killed as a result, with all of the deaths occurring in the middle and eastern portions of the county. An analyst for Montgomery County Council President Nancy Navarro (D-Dist 4) described the cluster of deaths in Silver Spring and Wheaton as "simply unacceptable," and suggested police "aggressively ticket drivers who speed or fail to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks." (Read Navarro's blog post here.) Responses from readers, however, were mixed. After a 23-year-old Silver Spring bicyclist died after allegedly illegally crossing an intersection in downtown Silver…
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The mother and two children were struck while on a sidewalk crossing in the 100 block of North Summit Avenue Tuesday morning in Gaithersburg.
A mother and her two elementary school-aged children were struck by a vehicle at 8:55 a.m. Tuesday while on the sidewalk crossing the driveway access to a parking lot in the 100 block of North Summit Avenue, according to a news release by Montgomery County police. Police have not yet released additional information, but reported that the three were transported to a local emergency room with non-life threatening injuries. Two other pedestrian collisions also occurred in Montgomery County Tuesday: A Watkins Mill High School student was hit while walking to school, and a car struck struck a pedestrian while crossing Wisconsin Avenue at Chelsea Lane. Police said the victims were both transported to local hospitals with non-life threatening …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Pedestrian, Pedro Antonio Gomez, 34, of Montgomery Village, is in grave condition, according to Montgomery County Police.
The man seriously injured Monday while crossing Wisteria Drive in Germantown has been identified as Pedro Antonio Gomez, 34, of Montgomery Village. “He’s still in grave condition,” Montgomery County police spokeswoman Angela Cruz told Patch. Police said a car traveling north on Wisteria Drive, near Waters Road, struck Gomez, who lives in the 1800 block of Lost Knife Circle. The driver remained at the scene and has been helping with the investigation, according to police. Police have asked witnesses who have not yet spoken to detectives to call 240-773-6620, or the non-emergency line at 301-279-8000.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
An increased police presence will provide extra security and pedestrian safety awareness in some of the county's busiest retail centers.
Black Friday shoppers might notice an increased police presence in some of the county’s busiest shopping areas. Beginning Friday through Dec. 23 the Montgomery County Police Department’s annual “Shop With a Cop” campaign will provide extra security in retail areas in all six county police districts. Officers also will distribute 9,000 reusable bright yellow shopping bags, county police Chief J. Thomas Manger said at a news conference on Tuesday in Rockville Town Square. The bags have a drawing of a pair of eyes above the slogan “Can you see me now?” and are part of a Montgomery County pedestrian safety campaign also announced Tuesday. Shop With a Cop is focused on making drivers aware of increased pedestrian holiday traffic in shopping …
Thursday, November 15, 2012
In light of the recent death of Germantown teen, Action Committee for Transit board member says speed cameras, signs and ‘culture change’ could help improve pedestrian safety
The vice president of a Montgomery County-based transit advocacy group says speed cameras and a change in “driver culture” were needed to improve pedestrian safety on Germantown Road, where a teen pedestrian was fatally struck by a car. "Lots of people say she was killed because she was careless—if she had waited for the walk signal, crossed in the cross walk and watched out for traffic, she would still be alive,” said Miriam Schoenbaum, who was speaking during a meeting of the Action Council for Transit on Tuesday in Silver Spring. “She was killed because our society believes the convenience of drivers is more important than the lives of pedestrians," Schoenbaum said. Germantown Road (MD 118) is a state-owned roadway that sweeps past …
Costco Gas Man
3:06 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
According to the Md. DMV pedestrians are at fault 70% of the time. more ›