Stay Alert for Pedestrians and Bicyclists and Follow the Rules of the Road
(October 16, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration and Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office are urging all highway users to exercise extra caution as days get shorter during autumn months.
With the sun setting earlier and Halloween approaching, motorists need to stay alert for pedestrians and bicyclists. October is designated National Pedestrian Safety Month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“Highway safety is everyone’s business,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “It’s essential that all users adhere to the rules of the road. We must drive, walk and bike with safety in mind.”
According to the NHTSA, 78% of pedestrian fatalities nationwide occur when it’s dark outside. To help increase safety, pedestrians are encouraged to wear bright colors and reflective clothes when using roadways at dusk, nighttime and early morning hours.
“Adhering to the speed limit, driving sober and minimizing distractions are the responsibility of all drivers and essential for ensuring pedestrian safety,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who is also Governor Wes Moore's Highway Safety Representative. “Increased speeds, distractions and impairment lead to longer reaction times and greater stopping distances, which can result in devastating consequences for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users struck by vehicles.”
In a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, a pedestrian is far more likely to be seriously injured or killed. According to the Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office, there were 2,892 crashes involving a vehicle and pedestrian in 2023, resulting in 2,837 injuries and 159 fatalities.
Motorists are urged to:
- Enter and exit driveways slowly.
- Stay alert, slow down and stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and intersections. It’s the law!
- Use caution when turning at intersections.
- Always drive sober. If you’re planning to drink, arrange for a safe ride home.
- Come to a complete stop at stop signs and for school buses.
- Move over a lane when approaching any stopped, standing or parked vehicle displaying warning signals. If it’s not safe to move over, slow down.
- On Halloween, be extra cautious during peak trick-or-treating hours, 4-9 p.m.
- Expect the unexpected. Watch for children crossing streets and moving between parked cars.
Pedestrians are urged to:
- Pay attention to their surroundings.
- Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
- Press the pedestrian signal button at signalized intersections, then wait for the “walk” signal.
- Look left, right and left again before crossing a street.
- Be sure you are able to see and can be seen. Avoid dark clothing and masks that impair your vision. Wear bright colored clothing and use reflective devices when out after dark.
The State Highway Administration is committed to connecting pedestrians and bicyclists safely to life’s opportunities. In May 2023, the agency released the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan and is advancing projects under the plan to enhance safety for vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. Project corridors have been selected based on data-driven priorities and analysis, and the agency is using its Context Driven Guide to select and design improvements that have the greatest safety impact.
The Pedestrian Safety Action Plan and the Context Driven Guide are components of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets policy, designed to ensure accessible, equitable and safe options are prioritized for all users throughout the state’s transportation network. The policy supports options such as walking, bicycling and using mobility aids, as well as e-bikes, e-scooters and other human- or low-powered means.
Click here for additional pedestrian safety tips. For a list of all major State Highway Administration projects, go to the Project Portal or visit the homepage at roads.maryland.gov. Stay in touch by visiting the agency’s Facebook, Twitter (now X) and Instagram pages.