Students and Drivers Encouraged to Stay Alert & Walk Smart

(August 17, 2016) – Going back to school marks the unofficial end of summer as the vacation season ends, daily routines resume and traffic increases.  As the new school year opens, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA), Prince George’s County and partners urge everyone to review the rules of the road and place traffic safety on back-to-school checklists.  With an enrolled 880,000 students returning to Maryland elementary, middle and high schools over the next two weeks, safety advocates issue a call to action to help protect the State’s youngest morning and afternoon commuters as more pedestrians, bicyclists, vehicles and school buses take to area roadways.

Today partners from SHA, Prince George’s County, Public Schools, Police, AAA, the Baltimore Orioles Bird and Bowie Baysox mascot Louie gathered together with students at Rosa Parks Elementary School to remind drivers and pedestrians of roadway basics and launch a new awareness initiative.   Whether a parent of a school-aged child or a daily commuter, everyone has a role in back to school and pedestrian safety.

“On average, 100 pedestrians lose their lives on Maryland roadways every year.  Today we are arming some of our youngest commuters with safety information that has the power to prevent injuries and save lives,” said SHA Administrator Gregory C. Johnson “Everyone needs to help spread the word that safety starts by walking smart, using crosswalks, looking left – right – left, and staying alert.  At some point in the day, each of us is a pedestrian; so when driving, be sure to look up and look out for people walking and crossing roads.”

 

“The Department of Public Works & Transportation is pleased to be part of the Look Up and Look Out campaign partnership to make walking and biking safer for children in Prince George’s County.   It’s a great way to get everyone focused on safety, beginning with our youngest citizens,” said Prince George’s County Director of Public Works Darrell B. Mobley.

Press conference participants also unveiled the Look Up, Look Out Campaign that communicates to both pedestrians and drivers. Parents and students should review the rules of the road, especially for walking to school, biking and waiting for the school bus. Drivers need to  remember that children will be traveling to and from school, to always stop for pedestrians, be aware of school buses in the traffic mix, and be prepared for extra traffic and possibly delays. All Prince George’s County elementary school children will receive a reflective Walk Smart Back Pack filled with tips and activities to learn safe walking tips during pedestrian and school bus safety presentations.

To reinforce the message, Look Up, Look Out – Stay Alert & Walk Smart, the Baysox mascot Louie will visit Prince George’s County schools to demonstrate safe walking tips. Parents are entering their children’s schools to be chosen for the visits via the Baysox Facebook page now through September 4.  SHA and the Baysox will announce the winning schools September 8.  One of these schools will also receive a visit from the Oriole’s Bird.

“Keeping students safe as they walk to and from school is a community responsibility,” said Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). “In our school district, more than 128,000 students come to school each day. With the help of families and our community partners, we can reinforce pedestrian and driver safety awareness to ‘look out’ for our students.”

Motorists should be aware that enforcement is another key component of safety efforts, and local police departments will be in full force in designated school zones where speed limits may be reduced.

“Our efforts this year to reduce fatal collisions have resulted in a 30% reduction thus far,” said Chief Stawinski, Prince George’s County Police Department. “We are asking the citizens to partner with us to help reduce this number even further, particularly as we anticipate more pedestrian traffic as the new school year begins.”

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that from 2004 until 2013, 327 school-age children died in school-transportation related crashes: 54 were occupants of school transportation vehicles, 147 were occupants of other vehicles, 116 were pedestrians, and nine were bicyclists.  More school-age pedestrians were killed between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and     3 p.m. and 4 p.m. than any other hours of the day.  In Maryland over the last five years, 1,000 school-age children were injured and another five were killed during these time periods.

“Prince George's County has one of the most effective speed camera programs in school zones in Maryland. These speed cameras are designed to protect children heading to and from school and impose harsh penalties on errant drivers. Yet drivers continue to disobey traffic laws in school zones or in neighborhoods. In fact, more than one third of drivers roll through stop signs in these areas, research shows,” said John B. Townsend II, AAA Manager of Public and Government Affairs, D.C. “For the sake of children, slow down, avoid using cell phones and other electronic devices, be prepared to stop for school buses, and look for the telltale signs of the presence of children, such as AAA School Safety Patrol members, crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds.”

To further enhance children’s safety, SHA offers the following tips:

• Use sidewalks and marked cross walks whenever possible.

• Press the pedestrian signal button and wait for the walk signal.

• Always stop at the curb and look left, right and left before crossing a street.

• Watch for cars turning in or leaving driveways.

• Walk, don’t run across the street.

• Wear light or bright colored clothing.

• Look up and stay alert take off headphones while walking – no texting or playing games.

 

• Always stop for pedestrians.

• Treat every intersection as a crosswalk, even when none is marked.

• Obey traffic signs, signals and markings.

• Stop for red lights; yield to pedestrians when making a right turn on red.

• Observe posted speed limits. Speeding only makes it more difficult to stop for pedestrians.

• Keep your eyes on the road. It’s illegal to use a handheld phone/device or text while driving.

• When a school bus stops, the flashing red lights go on and the stop sign flaps come out, drivers in BOTH directions are required to stop. This is the most dangerous time with children are getting on or off the bus.

• It is against the law to pass a stopped school bus with its flashing red lights activated and stop arm extended.

• Drivers must be patient. There is simply no room for aggressive driving around a school bus.

 

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