New Signal to be Installed on MD 410 at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School
(September 21, 2017) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is installing a High-intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) signal on MD 410 (East West Highway) at the entrance to Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, between Chelton Road and Pearl Street. The new pedestrian crossing beacon will be activated by the end of September, becoming the first HAWK beacon on a Maryland state roadway.
“MDOT SHA is reaching into our toolbox to significantly enhance safety for pedestrians and students at this busy crosswalk,” said MDOT SHA Administrator Gregory Slater. “Installing the HAWK beacon at this intersection will alert drivers of the presence of people crossing. Pedestrian safety is a two-way street, and we’re counting on pedestrians to activate the signal and for drivers to stay alert, slow and stop for people crossing.”
The HAWK beacon stays dark until a pedestrian or bicyclist presses the “walk” button. After being triggered, the safety beacon will flash yellow, then change to steady yellow, followed by a steady red light. Once the steady red phase is activated, drivers must stop.
(MDOT SHA graphic: Diagram of a HAWK Beacon.)
Together with local partners, MDOT SHA will deploy safety ambassadors during school arrival and dismissal hours to help familiarize pedestrians on the proper operation of the HAWK beacon. With pedestrians accounting for one fifth of all annual traffic deaths in Maryland, MDOT SHA makes pedestrian safety a priority through the three “E’s” of safety - engineering, education and strategic partnership with law enforcement.
Approximately 28,000 vehicles travel MD 410 in this area daily. Last year, statewide 107 pedestrians were killed and another 3,318 people were injured. More than 500 of the pedestrians involved in Maryland crashes were age 15 or younger.
To help raise public awareness about pedestrian safety, MDOT SHA developed the Look Up, Look Out campaign to educate both pedestrians and drivers about the rules of the road and the need to stay alert and look out for each other. Here are reminders for both pedestrians and drivers:
Pedestrians – Look Up and Look Out.
o Watch and stay alert, avoiding distractions,
o Remove earphones,
o Use crosswalks, push pedestrian signal buttons and wait for the “walk” symbol before crossing.
o See and be seen, by wearing light, bright, clothing, especially at night.
Drivers – Look Up and Look Out:
o Look out for pedestrians
o Pay attention with eyes on the road
o STOP for pedestrians, especially when turning.
MDOT SHA’s contractor for the $64,000 project is Rommel Engineering & Construction, Inc. of Linthicum Heights.
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