Drivers Celebrating with Alcohol on St. Patrick's Day Have Safe Transportation Options

If you are planning to celebrate with alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) remind residents not to drink and drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly half of all traffic deaths on St. Patrick’s Day involve drunk drivers.

MCDOT urges residents who choose to celebrate with alcohol to plan ahead for a safe ride home.

Residents are urged to make plans before heading out to celebrate and to consider using one of the following safe ride options:

• SoberRide is a free ride home program offered by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, in partnership with Lyft. A limited number of promotional codes for Lyft will be posted at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 on SoberRide.com. The codes are valid for up to $15 off one ride home taken in Lyft’s Washington, D.C. coverage area nightly from 4 p.m., Saturday, March 15 until 4 a.m. Tuesday, March 18. Participants must be 21 or older.
• MCDOT’s Ride On bus is available with a fare of $1 on all County buses. There are currently 80 routes throughout the County that operate daily. Download the free regional public transit app Ride On Trip Planner to plan your next trip.
• To learn about other year-round safe ride options, visit the County’s Vision Zero Safe Ride webpage.

Free ‘Community Safety Day’ Event Promoting Pedestrian Safety Will be Held in Rockville on Saturday, May 11

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will host a free family-friendly, student-led “Community Safety Day” event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, at the Carver Educational Services Center (CESC) in Rockville. The fair will highlight driver, bike and pedestrian safety with interactive and educational experiences including safety demonstrations, workshops, games and hands-on activities for all ages.

The Carver Educational Services Center is located at 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. The event will be in the parking lot.

“Ask any parent or teacher, and it is no great secret that young people will listen to and pay attention to each other more than to adults,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We have found that peer-to-peer messaging, such as our Vision Zero public safety communications efforts through our Youth Ambassador program, is more effective in convincing our youth to make smart and potentially life-saving decisions. It’s encouraging to see our young people get involved and want to spread awareness about an important topic like traffic safety. These efforts are part of our commitment to making Montgomery County safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.”

Safety Day was organized by members of the County’s Vision Zero Youth Ambassador program. Students in the program completed a group project that encompasses engineering and education topics to address local traffic safety needs. The program’s goal is to equip young adults to be the next generation of traffic safety leaders.

County high school students apply annually and are competitively selected to be youth ambassadors for a four-month program. Ambassadors who complete the program gain extensive knowledge about the County’s Vision Zero initiative, meet County leaders and earn up to 35 Student Service-Learning Hours (SSL). Vision Zero Youth Ambassadors planned and will be working the event, sharing valuable tips and tricks through activities.

“Keeping our residents safe is our highest priority,’” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “This event is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of safely walking, biking and driving, as we work together to achieve our Vision Zero goals.”

The event is for all ages, from seasoned cyclists to school-aged children and will feature unique and fun activities for the whole family, including:

• Traffic Garden: Young children can enjoy the interactive traffic garden, a safe zone to try biking through miniature streets and learn how to navigate crosswalks and other traffic-related situations safely.
• Raffles: Hourly raffle drawings and giveaways featuring essential safety gear that will help keep everyone protected on the roads and sidewalks.
• Interactive Activities: Attendees can visit interactive demonstrations and games, including a bike helmet melon drop and safety trivia, as a fun way to learn about safety.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Montgomery County Recreation are co-sponsoring the event along with MCDOT.

“Thousands of Montgomery County Public Schools students and staff get to and from school each day by walking, riding a bicycle, or driving,” said MCPS Interim Superintendent of Schools Monique Felder. “This event provides an important opportunity to spread awareness about safety and ensure that our families have the knowledge and resources they need to practice safe behaviors on sidewalks and on the roads.”

‘Heads Up, Phones Down’ Teen Video Contest Winners Honored

High school students across Montgomery County have a message for their peers: “Put those phones away when driving or walking.” That theme was emphasized as the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) announced the winners of its 2023 “Heads Up, Phones Down” video contest.

Thomas Phillips of Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda was the grand prize individual winner. Anna Li and Isabel Wu of Poolesville High School took the grand prize in the team category.

The contest asked students to produce videos encouraging peers to not allow cell phones to distract them while driving and walking. The contest received 185 video entries.

“Due to texting and driving, 11 teenagers die per day in our country,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We want to avoid these tragedies in Montgomery County and these peer-to-peer messaging contests and campaigns are very effective at drawing attention and awareness to this dangerous and deadly behavior. I am really happy to see the level of participation we received; 185 video entries is very impressive.”

The contest was open to Montgomery public and private high school students. Entries were submitted either individually or as a group of up to four in English or Spanish.

A team from the MCDOT Safe Routes to School office visited the schools of the grand prize winners on April 21 to surprise the creators of the top entries with prizes, balloons and fanfare.

A grand prize and first- and second-runner-up prizes were awarded in the group and individual categories. Winning group submissions split the grand prize with gift cards for each member. Individual submission winners qualified for prizes including an Apple MacBook Pro, an Apple Watch or a tripod.

The contest winners, with links to their winning videos:

Individual Winners

• Grand Prize Winner: Thomas Phillips, Walter Johnson High School. Don't Tempt Yourself.
• First Runner Up Winner: Danny Lemus-Luna, John F. Kennedy High School. Keep All Eyes on the Road.
• Second Runner Up Winner: Zoey Tahardi, Winston Churchill High School. Driving Without the Senses.

Group Winners

• Grand Prize Winners: Anna Li, Isabel Wu, Poolesville High School. Trapped.
• First Runner Up Winners: Vesper Ruhlen, Alex Hazoume, Walter Johnson High School. Stay Aware.
• Second Runner Up Winners: Tatiana Zeman, Emilia Hicks, Richard Montgomery High School. Your phone is replaceable. You're not.

“Distracted driving is a significant risk factor in fatal car crashes, especially among teenage drivers,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “Cell phone use while driving poses an extreme risk to drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. We hope these videos get the message out: ‘When you are behind the wheel, you are responsible for the safety of everyone on the road.’”

View the winning videos and photos of the winners on the Heads Up, Phones Down contest website.

Submissions Being Accepted from High School Students for ‘Heads Up, Phones Down’ Teen Video Contest Through March 31

Montgomery County teens have an opportunity to win some great prizes by producing peer videos promoting the importance of focusing on their surroundings, instead of their phones, while driving and walking. The County Department of Transportation’s “Heads Up, Phones Down” high school video contest will be accepting entries of 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) through March 31.

County public and private high school students are eligible to submit contest videos. Entries can be submitted individually or from a group of up to four students. Videos can be submitted in English or Spanish.

“As a former teacher, I know that peer-to-peer messaging is influential and resonates with other teens,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It’s important for our young people to help each other make good decisions and habits regarding vehicle and pedestrian safety. These messages and efforts can help eliminate distracted driving and support our County Vision Zero goals.”

Submissions will be grouped by individual projects and group projects. Individual entries can win an Apple Mac Book Air, an Apple Watch or tripod. Winning group submissions will split an $800 grand prize, $400 second prize and $200 third prize, with a Visa gift card for each member.

Students can submit their entries on the online entry form here. Students may also qualify for up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for successfully completing an entry.

“We know that, nationally, young drivers, ages 15-19, have the highest number of fatal crashes due to distracted driving,” said County Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin. “With 95 percent of teenagers having access to a smartphone, we hope this contest will serve as a reminder of the importance of avoiding distracted driving.”

Winning contestants will be visited by MCDOT staff and will have their videos posted on MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School website on Friday, April 14.

Visit the contest website for more information at montgomerycountymd.gov/HUPD.

Send contest-related questions to pedestrian.safety@montgomerycountymd.gov.

‘Be Seen on Halloween’ Safety Tips Will Be Emphasized This Weekend at Several Family-Friendly Halloween Events

Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) wants to ensure that trick or treaters have a safe and fun Halloween, particularly since it will be dark during many of the festivities.

“This statistic should scare you—the National Safety Council tells us that children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It is so important that families take extra precautions to ‘be seen on Halloween.’ We hope that all Montgomery County families have a fun and safe Halloween this year.”

The following tips can help keep trick-or-treaters safe:

• Drivers should slow down and be alert. Kids are excited on Halloween and may dart into the street. Reduce speed and turn on headlights early in the day to spot kids from further away.
• Drivers and trick-or-treaters should put electronic devices down and keep heads up and use caution on streets and sidewalks.
• Trick-or-treaters should only cross the street at corners or crosswalks. Always look left, right and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross. Walk—do not run—across the street.
• Parents and trick-or-treaters can make themselves more easily seen by carrying glow sticks or flashlights, using reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags and wearing light colors.

“Drivers should be very cautious, slow down and avoid distraction and impairment knowing that kids will be out trick-or-treating,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “If people are careful on our roads, we can keep each other safe and reduce the risk of a Halloween tragedy.”

The MCDOT Safe Routes to School program will be participating at several family friendly events giving out safety prizes and promoting pedestrian safety. The program will be participating in events, including:

• Friday, Oct. 28: Clopper Mill Elementary School
• Saturday, Oct. 29: Silver Spring Zombie Walk
• Sunday, Oct. 30: HalloWheaton at Marian Fryer Town Plaza

Safe Routes to School’ Offers Opportunities to Improve Pedestrian Safety Around Schools

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) offers residents and school administrators free resources to support children walking and biking to school through the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. On Wednesday, Oct. 12, the County will again be participating in Walk to School Day.

Safe Routes To School is a nationally recognized program that aims to significantly improve safety for students who walk and bike to school. In Montgomery County, the SRTS program also combines a safer roads component to slow down drivers and build new pedestrian and bicycle safety treatments such as new crosswalks, and bump-outs at an intersection and add stop or yield signs

“As a former teacher, I understand the importance of and fully support the County’s commitment to ensuring the safety of our students,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “As part of our Vision Zero efforts, we will continue to invest in sidewalks, bike paths and public safety staffing surrounding our schools. ​Our most recent budget reflects the County’s commitment, with the highest amount ever allocated toward making walks to school safer. We want to encourage our students who live close enough to be able to safely walk or bike to school by providing them with the necessary infrastructure and resources to keep them safe.”

MCDOT is completing walkability studies through the pedestrian road safety audit program to review the sidewalk and crosswalk conditions surrounding schools. For each school, these studies identify structural improvements including curb extensions, sidewalks, enhanced crosswalks, and the installation of traffic signs and signals.

The accompanying educational effort teaches elementary students how to use new infrastructure and traffic rules. It also encourages walking and biking by raising awareness of health and environmental benefits.

Free event participation and resources include:

• Walk to School Day: This internationally recognized event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 12. The MCDOT outreach team will be at Wheaton Woods Elementary School to promote biking and pedestrian safety and encourages all students who have a safe path and live near their school to walk to school on this date. Find information on setting up a Walk to School Day event at your school here.
• Walking Wednesdays: Every Wednesday during the school year, the SRTS team is available to visit schools and encourage students to walk and bike safely, distribute education materials and safety giveaways. Educators can register their school to participate in a Walking Wednesday event here.
• Bike Rodeos: The in-person bike clinic includes hands-on bike safety instruction, a discussion about the rules of the road and bike safety tips including the proper fitting and importance of wearing a bike helmet. Learn more here.
• Community Events: SRTS outreach efforts include attending school and community events to educate children and families about pedestrian and bike safety. A request for MCDOT to attend an event can be made here.
• Walking School Bus: This parent-organized effort shares responsibilities with other adults to supervise a group of kids walking to and from school. Each “bus” walks along a set route, with one or more adults leading a group of children. A guide with detailed information on how to start a walking school bus is available here.

“This past year, we built nearly six miles of County sidewalks and engaged over 40,000 residents through our pedestrian safety programs,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “We also made pedestrian improvements at several schools in response to walkshed assessments. It is important that our youth learn how to use new infrastructure and best practices for safety at an early age. We hope to encourage the adoption of walking, biking and using transit as primary ways to get around the County and that these choices will continue as our students become young adults. However, some of these students will also become drivers one day, and we hope to influence their behavior by highlighting the need to be careful drivers who recognize their responsibility for the safety of themselves and everyone else using our roads. Safety requires everyone to exercise caution and look out for one another.”

All Safe Routes to School program resources are free and community participation is encouraged. Students, parents and schools are encouraged to start an SRTS program at their schools. Educators can fill out a request form for their school.

‘Walktober’ Events Promote Walking and Pedestrian Safety Throughout October

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is partnering with the State of Maryland and local municipalities to celebrate “Walktober” with a series of activities in October promoting the State’s official exercise: walking. The month-long campaign highlights the safety and health of pedestrians. Walktober also highlights the importance of County pedestrian infrastructure projects.

“Walking is healthy, good for our environment and is a great way to get out and see Montgomery County in the fall,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Montgomery County is home to numerous ​cherished walking trails such as the C&O Canal, Black Hills Regional Park trails and the Matthew Henson Trail. ​Walktober is a great reminder for residents and visitors to explore these and other locations around the County, dine at some of our wonderful restaurants and plan a visit to a local farm for apple or pumpkin picking.”

MCDOT will be hosting a series of outreach events throughout the County designed to highlight the importance of walking. Walktober events will include:

• Walk to School Day. The internationally recognized event will be held Wednesday, Oct. 12. The MCDOT Safe Routes to School (SRTS) team will be at Wheaton Woods Elementary School to promote biking and pedestrian safety and encourage all students who have a safe path and live near their elementary school to walk to school on this date. Find information on setting up a Walk to School Day event at your school here.
• Pedestrian Safety Outreach. The SRTS team will be at various locations throughout the month to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety and talk with residents about recent safety improvements, including infrastructure projects and pedestrian hybrid beacons. View details on the calendar here.
• Walk Maryland Day. On Wednesday, Oct. 6, Marylanders are encouraged to participate in registered walks. Residents can become Walk Maryland Day “Sole Mates” by joining one of the official walks across the State

MCDOT aims to improve walkability by making improvements in pedestrian safety so that walkers and bikers get to their destinations safely.

“Walktober is a good time to take stock of the importance of the work we do,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “We have completed an analysis of sidewalk gaps around our public schools and are developing a school sidewalk prioritization program. We have also received multiple grants to support pedestrian focused infrastructure projects. We know there is still a lot of work to be done and we look forward to working with the County Executive, County Councilmembers and our residents to make sure that pedestrian safety improvements remain a priority.”

MCDOT was recently awarded the Kim Lamphier Bikeways grant for advancing the design of the Bethesda Trolley Trail connection to the Twinbrook Metrorail station. Funding from the Transportation Planning Board also was granted for the design of the Walter Johnson Road shared-use path connection to the Germantown MARC station as part of the Transit Within Reach program.

MCDOT routinely does outreach to educate on new infrastructure projects. In the County’s Fiscal Year 2022, the Pedestrian Safety team engaged more than 40,000 residents and students about pedestrian, bicycle and driver safety behaviors and introduced them to new beacons, sidewalk improvements and traffic calming measures.

Walktober partners include MCDOT, the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Department of Health, the Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of Planning, AARP Maryland, America Walks and jurisdictions and organizations across Maryland.

‘Heads Up, Phones Down’ Video Contest to be Held Feb. 1-22 for County Teens to Promote Safer Driving and Walking

Montgomery County teens have an opportunity to win some great prizes by producing videos to encourage peers not to allow cell phones to distract them while driving and walking. The County Department of Transportation’s “Heads Up, Phones Down” high school video contest will be accepting entries of 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) between Feb. 1 and Feb. 22. 

 Montgomery County public and private high school students can submit videos for the contest. Video entries can be submitted individually or as a group of up to four in English or Spanish.  

 “As a parent, grandparent and former teacher, I know that teenagers often pay more attention to their friends than the adults around them,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Adolescence is a time when peer messaging resonates. This peer-to-peer safety advocacy will help raise awareness of the need for everyone, drivers and walkers, to stay alert and not be distracted while traveling. This contest supports our County Vision Zero goals to eliminate distracted driving and increase pedestrian safety.” 

Entries can be submitted for individuals or for groups of up to four. 

There is one grand prize and a first and second runner up for both the individual and group submission categories. Winning group submissions will split the grand prize with gift cards for each member. Individual submissions may qualify for prizes including a PlayStation Five, an Apple Watch or tripod. 

Students can submit their entries on the website’s entry form here. Students may also qualify for up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for successfully completing an entry.  

 “Teens are using cell phones with increasing frequency,” said County Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin. “In fact, 84 percent of teenagers in the U.S. have their own phone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells us that young drivers, ages 15-19, are the age group with the largest proportion of distracted drivers at the time of a fatal crash. Likewise, an NIH study found that when distracted by cell phone use, children were less attentive to traffic; left less safe time between their crossing and the next arriving vehicle; experienced more collisions and close calls with oncoming traffic; and waited longer before beginning to cross the street. We hope this contest helps serve as a reminder to avoid being distracted by cell phones.” 

Winning entries will be announced live on Instagram at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 11, and will be posted on the MCDOT website here.  

Visit the contest website for more information at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-PedSafety/HUPD/.  

Send contest-related questions to pedestrian.safety@montgomerycountymd.gov.  

‘Heads Up, Phones Down’ Video Contest to be Held Feb. 1-22 for Montgomery County Teens to Promote Safer Driving and Walking

Montgomery County teens have an opportunity to win great prizes by producing videos to encourage peers not to allow cell phones to distract them while driving and walking. The County Department of Transportation’s “Heads Up, Phones Down” high school video contest will be accepting entries of 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) between Feb. 1 and Feb. 22.

Montgomery County public and private high school students can submit videos for the contest. Video entries can be submitted individually or as a group of up to four in English or Spanish.

“As a parent, grandparent and former teacher, I know that teenagers often pay more attention to their friends than the adults around them,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Adolescence is a time when peer messaging resonates. This peer-to-peer safety advocacy will help raise awareness of the need for everyone, drivers and walkers, to stay alert and not be distracted while traveling. This contest supports our County Vision Zero goals to eliminate distracted driving and increase pedestrian safety.”

Entries can be submitted for individuals or for groups of up to four.

There is one grand prize and two additional prizes for both the individual and group submission categories. Winning group submissions will split the grand prize with gift cards for each member. Individual submissions may qualify for prizes including a PlayStation Five, an Apple Watch or tripod.

Students can submit their entries on the website’s entry form here. Students may also qualify for up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for successfully completing an entry.

“Teens are using cell phones with increasing frequency,” said County Department of Transportation Director Chris Conklin. “In fact, 84 percent of teenagers in the U.S. have their own phone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells us that young drivers, ages 15-19, are the age group with the largest proportion of distracted drivers at the time of a fatal crash. Likewise, an NIH study found that when distracted by cell phone use, children were less attentive to traffic; left less safe time between their crossing and the next arriving vehicle; experienced more collisions and close calls with oncoming traffic; and waited longer before beginning to cross the street. We hope this contest helps serve as a reminder to avoid being distracted by cell phones.”

Winning entries will be announced live on Instagram at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 11, and will be posted on the MCDOT website here.

Visit the contest website for more information at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-PedSafety/HUPD/.

Send contest-related questions to pedestrian.safety@montgomerycountymd.gov.

School Bus Safety Week Kicks Off with Safety Video Featuring MCDOT’s ‘Zeal the Safety Zebra’

National School Bus Safety Week in Montgomery County will feature a safety video for elementary school students produced in a collaboration of the County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the County’s Vision Zero program. The video, which emphasizes safety tips for children traveling to and from school on the bus, will feature MCDOT’s safety zebra, Zeal.

Held during the third full week of October each year, National School Bus Safety Week is a public education program encouraging parents, students, teachers, school bus operators, school administrators and other interested parties to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety.

School bus safety tips include:

• At the bus stop, have children wait in a location where the driver can see them while driving down the street. Try to avoid waiting in a house or car.
• Do not let children play in the street. Playing with balls or other toys that could roll into the street is also dangerous.
• Warn children that if they drop something getting on and off the bus, they should never pick it up. Instead, they should tell the driver and follow the driver’s instructions.
• Remind children to look to the right before they step off the bus.
• If you meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. Children can be so excited after school that they dash across the street and forget the safety rules.

Additional school bus safety tips are available here.

“The safety of our children is our first priority,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Being safe is important around the school bus as well as on the school bus and we are pleased to partner with the school system to educate students in fun and engaging ways. Our ‘Safe Routes to School’ program, run by MCDOT, routinely engages in these activities and ties into our County’s Vision Zero plan to eliminate pedestrian deaths and serious injuries in the County.”

MCDOT offers free resources to get parents, teachers and volunteers involved in pedestrian safety surrounding their schools. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3vdcTLq and subscribe to the Safe Routes To School newsletter here.

“This week presents a good opportunity to engage young children to teach them how to take precautions while riding a school bus,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “Parents and teachers are encouraged to share our new video featuring Zeal the Safety Zebra with young children and review safety guidance with them.”

To access the children’s safety video, go to https://bit.ly/zealbus.

'Walktober' Events to Promote Walking and Pedestrian Safety to be Held Throughout October

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is partnering with State and local governments across Maryland to celebrate the Seventh Annual “Walktober” program, a month-long series of activities in October promoting the State’s official exercise: walking. Maryland named walking as the official State exercise in October 2008.

“Walking is healthy for your body, good for our environment, and the best way to see Montgomery County,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We are committed to making walking and pedestrian mobility easy, safe, and accessible throughout Montgomery County. I encourage all residents to get their steps this ‘Walktober’ while the weather is beautiful, the foliage is in bloom, and it’s the perfect time to explore new communities, dine at your favorite restaurants, and pick some apples or pumpkins at a local farm.”

MCDOT will be hosting a series of outreach events throughout the County designed to highlight the importance of walking and to promote the work being done under the Vision Zero program to make walking in Montgomery County safe for people of all ages and abilities.

“We are proud to partner with State and local agencies to promote ‘Walktober,’” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “This is a great opportunity to highlight the health benefits of walking and raise awareness on safety as we work together to achieve our Vision Zero goals.”

Events scheduled for Walktober include:

• The Walk & Ride Challenge. Oct. 4-22. The Challenge is open to employees working remotely or in-person in five participating Transportation Management Districts around the County. Nearly 100 employer-based teams have registered and will compete against each other to log the most steps for weekly prizes and a grand prize at the end of the competition. More information on the Challenge is available at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/walkandride/rules.html.
• Walk to School Day. Wednesday, Oct. 6. All schools are encouraged to sponsor a Walk to School event and register their event at http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/.
• Walking Wednesdays. Every Wednesday during Walktober, Safe Routes to Schools team members will be at numerous Montgomery County Public Schools to talk safety, provide prizes and meet mascot Zeal. View details on the calendar here.
• Pedestrian Safety Events. Every week, County staff will be at various locations to promote recent safety improvements made to nearby roadways and talk with residents about safely navigating through new bike lanes and pedestrian hybrid beacons. The events will be in Aspen Hill, Friendship Heights, Wheaton and Germantown. View details on the calendar here.
• Walk Maryland Day. Wednesday, Oct. 6. Event encourages Marylanders to participate in registered walks. Marylanders can become Walk Maryland Day “Sole Mates” by registering to join one of the official walks across the State.
• The State is hosting four webinars, dubbed “walkinars,” every Thursday throughout October. Details and registration can be found here.

Walktober partners include MCDOT, the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Department of Health, the Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of Planning, AARP Maryland, America Walks and jurisdictions and organizations across Maryland.

Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program Encourages Parents to Organize ‘Walking School Buses’

With the return to in-person instruction next week, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Safe Routes to Schools program is encouraging parents to organize a “Walking School Bus” to enable young students to safely walk to schools in their neighborhoods. Walking school buses provide a safe and fun way for children to get physical activity as they travel to and from school with adult supervision.

A walking school bus is a parent-organized effort similar to a carpool group but rather than share driving responsibilities, adults supervise a group of kids walking to and from school. Each “bus” walks along a set route, with one or more adults leading the group of children. The walking group picks up, or drops off, children at designated stops, similar to a traditional school bus. Walking school buses also provide a safe way for parents to help each other with the demands of getting children to and from school in an outdoor and socially distanced manner.

“Ensuring the safety of children walking to school is our priority,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “The ‘Walking School Bus’ program is a great option for families who are rethinking the ways they get to and from school. This is a safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly program.”

Safe Routes to School programs, which encourage and enable children to safely walk and bicycle to school, often include walking school buses in their activities. A variation on the walking school bus is a bicycle train where a group of children and adult leaders ride to school together.

There are many benefits to participating in a Walking School Bus, including:

• Increasing daily physical activity
• Opportunities to learn about and practice road safety
• Saving money on gas and reduce car emissions
• Reducing traffic in school zones
• Meeting other families and making new friends
• It is fun

The program is a partnership between MCDOT's Safe Routes to Schools program, Montgomery County Public Schools, and the Vision Zero Initiative. Schools can sign up for free information by signing up for the Safe Routes to School newsletter here.

“We are encouraging students to stay healthy, active and safe by walking to school,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “Walking school buses are a great opportunity to teach children about traffic safety, it strengthens community ties and helps to reduce traffic and carbon emissions.”

MCDOT offers free resources to get parents and volunteers started. For more information visit, https://bit.ly/3sGvPRB and subscribe to the Safe Routes To School newsletter here.

For ongoing updates, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, visit the department website at montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot and subscribe to MCDOT’s ‘Go Montgomery!’ newsletter.

County’s ‘Safe Routes to Schools’ Program Encourages Parents to Organize ‘Walking School Buses’ to Help Young Students to Walk to Neighborhood Schools

Montgomery County Public School students are returning to in-person instruction in the next steps of recovery from the COVID-19 health crisis and spring weather has arrived. That combination has the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and its Safe Routes to Schools program encouraging parents to organize a “Walking School Bus” to enable young students to safely walk to the schools in their neighborhoods. Walking school buses provide a safe and fun way for children to get physical activity as they travel to and from school—with adult supervision.

A walking school bus is a parent-organized effort similar to a carpool group but rather than share driving responsibilities, joins together adult supervision to walk kids to and from school. Each “bus” walks along a set route, with one or more adults leading the group of children. The walking group picks up (or drops off) children at designated stops, similar to a traditional school bus. Walking school buses also provide a safe way for parents to help each other with the demands of getting children to and from school in an outdoor and socially distanced manner.

“As schools reopen, we must ensure the safety of children walking to their school,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “The ‘Walking School Bus’ program will help improve the routines of those students who walk to school. Thanks to MCDOT, MCPS, Safe Routes and the Vision Zero Initiative for this safe, fun, healthy and environmentally friendly program.”

The program is a partnership between MCDOT, Montgomery County Public Schools, the County’s Safe Routes to Schools program and the Vision Zero Initiative. It encourages students to stay healthy, active and safe by walking to school. It is also a great program to teach children about traffic safety and the rules of the road. The program is also aligned with the County’s climate goals by promoting transportation options that reduce carbon emissions.

“After a year of major disruption to families and students, we hope that a return to in-person schooling provides an opportunity for local communities to consider new ways of getting to and from school,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “Walking to school as a group provides healthy physical activity at the start and end of each school day, helps adults to help each other and share the demands of parenting, strengthens community ties and helps to reduce traffic and carbon emissions.”

There are many benefits in participating in a Walking School Bus, including:

• Outdoor and socially distanced ways for adults to share parenting responsibilities
• Increasing daily physical activity
• Opportunities to learn about and practice road safety
• Saving money on gas and reducing car emissions
• Reducing traffic in school zones
• Meeting other families and making new friends
• Making travel to and from school fun

To learn more and to get started, visit https://montgomerycountymd.gov/wsb.

The WSB program includes details on how neighborhoods can organize and offers many tips on how to make the program successful for students and parents. Those details can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/25hcu3bh.

The County’s Department of Transportation also can provide assistance on how walking school buses can be organized. For help, contact Duwan.Morris@montgomerycountymd.gov.


  

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich Names Wade Holland as New Coordinator of County’s Vision Zero Program and Presents 2020 Plan

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich named Wade Holland as the new full-time coordinator of the County’s Vision Zero program. At the same time, Elrich addressed the next steps to be implemented to keep pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers safer.

The Vision Zero program is dedicated to eliminating traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries by 2030.

Holland, employed with the County’s CountyStat Office for the past six years, has focused on public safety and transportation issues. For the past three years, he has served as the part-time coordinator of the County’s Vision Zero Steering Committee. He holds a Master of Public Policy Degree from American University, with a specialty in advanced policy analysis.

The Vision Zero Steering Committee, consisting of representatives from a variety of County departments and agencies, has created and implemented the 2020 Vision Zero Action Plan. The plan was built with input from key Vision Zero departments to continue implementing roadway improvements and coordinate education and enforcement campaigns.

Learn more about Vision Zero Action Plan.

County Installs New Pedestrian Safety Light in Bethesda

Montgomery County continued its efforts to keep pedestrians safer when it activated its newest high intensity activated crosswalk (HAWK) beacon in Bethesda where Tuckerman Lane crosses the Bethesda Trolley Trail. The County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) installed the pedestrian beacon in response to community concerns about pedestrian safety.

The beacons align with the priorities of Montgomery County’s Vision Zero plan, which aims to reduce and eventually eliminate traffic-related deaths. The Tuckerman Lane beacon was installed faster than some others because existing poles and power were at the site from a replaced pedestrian warning beacon.

The newest HAWK beacon was installed following neighborhood concerns after a fatal collision involving a pedestrian occurred at Tuckerman Lane and the Bethesda Trolley Trail crossing. The location had been scheduled for an updated signal as part of MCDOT’s modified practice to install HAWK beacons in place of some existing pedestrian flashing signals. HAWK beacons provide better direction to drivers, requiring them to stop at locations where they would otherwise just use “additional caution” under the flashing signals.

Learn more about the County’s HAWK beacon program in a recent press release.

Stay Safe this Holiday Season and Throughout the New Year

With all the hustle-bustle of this time of the year, you will want to be extra vigilant to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Be Seen: If you are buying a new winter coat, consider purchasing a light-colored one, or at the very least, wear a white scarf and white gloves. Look for athletic clothing with reflective patches and check out what is available at running stores that increase visibility. Don’t assume that because you see a vehicle, that the driver sees you.

Be Alert: Pay attention when walking or driving. Remember, Maryland is a Hands-Free state: no texting or even holding a cell phone while driving is allowed. Distracted driving is a leading cause of collisions. And, when walking by a roadway or crossing streets, don’t wear earbuds or look at a cell phone.

Be Responsible: Don’t drink and drive. Responsible party hosts ensure that no guest drives after drinking and will enforce a zero-tolerance for alcohol use by guests under age 21.

Read more safety tips here.

County Launches ‘Be Safe, Be Seen’ Campaign to Increase Safety During Decreased Daylight

Montgomery County Government departments and agencies are combining their resources in November to launch one of the most aggressive campaigns in County history to make drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists aware of the added perils that come with time changes, and decreased hours of afternoon daylight occurring with the switch to Standard Time. The approximately 20 planned “Be Safe, Be Seen” events will form the most comprehensive one-month safety campaign that the County has ever undertaken.

A 2016 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that 26 percent of all pedestrian deaths occurred between 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. Because peak evening commuting times in fall and winter occur during periods of increased darkness, danger is increased. The adjustment to Standard Time began the shift for this season.

This new campaign is evidence of the value of collaboration facilitated by the County’s Vision Zero Initiative, which is committed to reducing and eventually eliminating all traffic-related deaths. The concept was initiated by the County’s Police Department during targeted Vision Zero collaboration and subsequently brought in cooperative action by the County’s Department of Transportation. The Be Safe, Be Seen campaign also will involve the combined efforts of the Fire and Rescue Service, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), the CountyStat program and the Office of Public Information.

Learn more about the campaign and the scheduled events to promote safety.

Stay Safe this Holiday Season and Throughout the New Year

Unfortunately, there has been a recent increase in injury and fatal pedestrian-related traffic collisions. Roads and activities will continue to get busier this time of year, so everyone is urged to follow important safety tips now and throughout the new year.

Be Seen, Be Alert and Be Responsible can help keep you safer.
Be Seen: If you are buying a new winter coat, consider purchasing a light-colored one, or at the very least, wear a white scarf and white gloves. Look for athletic clothing with reflective patches and check out what is available at running stores that increases visibility. Don’t assume that because you can see a vehicle, that the driver can see you.

Be Alert: Give full attention when walking or driving. Remember, Maryland is a Hands-Free state: no texting or even holding a cell phone while driving is allowed. Distracted driving continues to be a leading cause of collisions. And, when walking by a roadway or crossing streets, don’t wear earbuds or look at a cell phone.

Be Responsible: Don’t drink and drive. The most responsible party hosts will ensure that no guest drives after drinking and will enforce a zero tolerance for alcohol use by guests under age 21.

Read more safety tips here.

Give the Gift of Safety to School Bus-Riding Students

As 2017 comes to a close and 2018 begins, the danger to school bus-riding students remains a concern. Far too many drivers do not obey the Maryland School Bus Law.

Do you know the law? Throughout the state of Maryland, drivers must stop, and remain stopped, for a stopped school bus with red lights flashing and the stop arm activated. A driver may not proceed until the flashing red lights go off and the bus begins to move. The only time a driver doesn’t have to stop is if the vehicle is traveling in the opposite direction of the bus and there is a physical median/barrier separating the lanes of traffic.

In the beginning 40 days of this school year (with 500 cameras), 7,919 drivers were recorded illegally passing buses stopped to load or unload students. The total citations issued from cameras averaged 198 per day. Last school year in 153 days (between October 13 and June 16), 17,235 citations (112 a day) were issued as the camera program expanded from 108 to 217 camera-equipped buses. Since October 13, 2016, 633 drivers have been repeat offenders.

With camera citations confirming a lack of compliance to the law, it is likely only a matter of time before a child is seriously injured or killed. Make sure you know, understand and obey the school bus law. Let’s work together to make those violations decrease in 2018.

Learn more about school bus safety. Please share the Understanding the School Bus Law information flyer with friends and family. One of the best gifts we can give our children is doing our best to keep them safe! 

Department of Transportation Works Hard on White Flint Pedestrian Safety Initiatives

County Executive Ike Leggett participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for one of dozens of pedestrian safety improvement projects recently completed or planned in White Flint that support the area’s continuing transformation into a walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented community. Hosted by leaders from Friends of White Flint and Coalition for Smarter Growth, the celebration included Council President Roger Berliner and Montgomery County Transportation Director Al Roshdieh.

County Executive Ike Leggett participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for one of dozens of pedestrian safety improvement projects recently completed or planned in White Flint by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) that support the area’s continuing transformation into a walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented community on Wednesday, September 27.

Joining Leggett were County Council President Roger Berliner, MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh, Friends of White Flint Executive Director Amy Ginsburg and Coalition for Smarter Growth Montgomery Advocacy Manager Pete Tomao.

To read more about the MCDOT projects that are scheduled to enhance walkability, bikeability and access to high quality transit options in White Flint, check press release.