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Vests for Visibility Program Helps Protect Pedestrians on Halloween; Trick or Treaters and Drivers Urged to Look Out for Each Other
(October 24, 2017) – Close encounter with a zombie? Hungry vampires at the chase? Goblins on your heels? The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is offering recommendations for pedestrians coping with these Halloween vices: look up, look out, walk calmly, use crosswalks and follow traffic signals. Because every day and especially on Halloween, everyone needs to follow the rules of the road, see and be seen.
Protect your witches, wizards, fairies, pirates and other creatures taking to Maryland streets this Tuesday, October 31, with a reflective vest courtesy of MDOT SHA’s annual “Vests for Visibility” Program. Designed to be worn over clothing, the reflective vests help increase the visibility of pedestrians. The vests will be available in all counties, at most MDOT SHA maintenance facilities, during the days just before the holiday.
Parents can pick up vests between Thursday, October 26 through Tuesday, October 31 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The reflective vests will be issued on a first come, first served basis and need to be returned by Friday, November 3.
“The Vests for Visibility program is one way that we are stressing how critical it is for pedestrians to stay visible and for drivers to look for pedestrians, on Halloween night and every evening,” said MDOT SHA Administrator Gregory Slater. “With the upcoming time change and nightfall coming earlier in the day, we want to make sure that drivers and pedestrians are looking out for each other, underscored as part of our overall Look Up, Look Out pedestrian safety campaign.”
“Even if you’re unable to borrow a vest, please make sure little ones stay visible on Halloween with glow sticks, lights or other reflective materials. Use this opportunity to have a conversation about walking and crossing the street safely,” continued Administrator Slater. “It is imperative that drivers stay on guard and expect to encounter pedestrians crossing the street.”
Safety Tips:
FOR MOTORISTS:
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Stop for pedestrians - Maryland law requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and intersections.
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Stay alert - park the mobile phone.
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Obey the speed limit. Speeding only makes it more difficult to stop unexpectedly.
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Motorists should be more cautious during peak trick-or-treating hours 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
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Enter and exit driveways slowly. Use caution when turning at intersections.
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Be alert for children darting across the street and crossing between parked cars.
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When driving children to and from different activities, make sure all seat belts are fastened and let children out of the car on the curbside.
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Never drink and drive. Designate a sober driver.
FOR PEDESTRIANS:
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Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street.
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Cross at crosswalks or intersections.
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Be sure to see and be seen. Avoid dark clothing, wear bright colors and use reflective devices such as vests and blinking lights.
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Avoid costumes that may impair vision.
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Make eye contact with drivers when crossing the street.
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Stay alert and be on the lookout for cars traveling above the speed limit.
2017 Vests for Visibility Participating SHA Maintenance Shops -interactive map available by click
here:
Allegany County
LaVale Shop
1221 W. Braddock Road
LaVale, MD 21502
Phone: 301-729-8433
Anne Arundel County
Glen Burnie Shop
910 Stewart Ave
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
410-766-3770
Annapolis Shop
138 Defense Highway
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-841-1009
Baltimore County
Golden Ring Shop
8375 Pulaski Highway
Rosedale, MD 21237
410-574-4511
Hereford Shop
306 Mount Carmel Road
Parkton, MD 21120
Phone: 410-329-6756
Owings Mills Shop
10690 Red Run Boulevard
Owings Mills, MD 21117
Phone: 410-363-1315
Calvert County
Prince Frederick Shop
100 Hallowing Point Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-1748
Caroline County
Denton Shop
508 Caroline Street
Denton, MD 21629
410-479-0770
Carroll County
Westminster Shop
150 Wyndtryst Drive
Westminster, MD 21157
410-876-2061
Cecil County
Elkton Shop
2024 E. Old Philadelphia Road
Elkton, MD 21922
410-398-1565
Charles County
LaPlata Shop
Washington Ave
LaPlata, MD 20646
301-934-8031
Dorchester County
Cambridge Shop
750 Handley Road
Cambridge, MD 21701
410-228-4977
Frederick County
Frederick Shop
5111 Buckeystown Pike
Frederick, MD 21701
301-624-8251
Garrett County
Keyser's Ridge Shop
3876 National Pike
Accident, MD 21520
Phone: 301-746-8141
Harford County
Churchville Shop
3050 Churchville Road
Churchville, MD 21028
Phone: 410-838-7788
Howard County
Dayton Shop
4401 MD 32Dayton, MD 21036
410-531-5533
Kent County
Chestertown Shop
615 Morgnec Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
410-778-0818
Montgomery County
Fairland Shop
12020 Plum Orchard Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20904
301-572-5166
Gaithersburg Shop
502 Quince Orchard Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20760
301-948-2477
Prince George’s County
Laurel Shop
400 Second Street
Laurel, MD 20707
301-776-7619
Marlboro Shop
6500 S.E. Crain Highway
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
301-952-0555
Queen Anne’s County
Centreville Shop
111 Safety Drive
Centreville, MD 21617
410-758-0700
Somerset County
Princess Anne Shop
10980 Market Lane
Princess Anne, MD 21853
410-651-1333
St. Mary’s County
Leonardtown Shop
27345 Point Lookout Road
Leonardtown, MD. 20650
301-475-8035
Talbot County
Easton Shop
8265 Ocean Gateway
Easton, MD 21601-0745
410-822-3525
Washington County
Hagerstown Shop
18320 Col. Henry K. Douglas Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: 301-791-4790
Wicomico County
Salisbury Shop
660 West Road
Salisbury, MD 21802
410-677-4050
Worcester County
Snow Hill Shop
5630 Market Street
Snow Hill, MD 21863
410-632-0511
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