When was the last time you got a traffic ticket?
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments鈥� fall includes enhanced enforcement of traffic laws regionwide.
鈥淲e write tickets not to inconvenience people, we write tickets to save lives,鈥� said a commander with D.C. police.
“This enforcement and education will begin immediately and continue through Dec. 4. Traffic laws are in place for a reason 鈥� to keep everyone safe, whether they鈥檙e walking, biking, driving or even scooting around town,鈥� he said.
Getting struck in a crosswalk by a dump truck that narrowly missed her daughter鈥檚 stroller convinced , of Arlington, to become a traffic safety advocate.
While Harris鈥� daughter was unharmed, she had a leg amputated above the knee. Four years later, every day is still a challenge, she said, and聽the crash affected her children, spouse, family and members of her community.
鈥淚 would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to drive carefully and pay attention when you’re behind the wheel,鈥� Harris said at Thursday鈥檚 campaign launch in Southeast D.C.
鈥淣othing matters more than what is in front of you when you’re driving,鈥� Harris said.
Pedestrian deaths in 2021 reached a 40-year high nationwide.
In Virginia, comparing 2022, so far this year with 2021 at this time, there has been a 34% increase in walkers and cyclists being killed in traffic, according to John Saunders, the director of Highway Safety for the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
鈥淲hat we’re seeing is people not making good choices,鈥� Saunders said. 鈥淎nd bad choices have consequences. You may get away with it once, twice, 100 times, but there’s one time that you may kill yourself or kill someone else on our roadways.鈥�
Saunders said the way to change people鈥檚 behavior is by changing their thinking to care more about others.
鈥淲e’re all in this human race together, and we have a responsibility to each other to do all we can to get everyone home safely, so no table is empty this Thanksgiving or this holiday season,” Saunders said.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 75% of pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. occur in the twilight and in the dark. The fall launch of Street Smart corresponded with the time of the rush-hour drive home — sundown at 4:52 p.m.
鈥淎s a community, we can help to reverse the nationwide trend of record pedestrian deaths during the fall season by knowing and obeying the traffic laws and speed limits in the region, and making our Street Smart tips a part of everyone鈥檚 transportation routine,鈥� said COG Executive Director Chuck Bean.
鈥淲e all have to work together to reach our goal of zero pedestrian and bicyclist deaths each year,鈥� Bean said.
More than a quarter of the total traffic deaths in the D.C. region are . To support its Street Smart campaign, the Council of Governments encourages investments in sidewalks, bike lanes and other improvements.
D.C.鈥檚 effort to reach its of zero traffic deaths includes traffic engineering adjustments being funded in part by President Joe Biden鈥檚 bipartisan infrastructure law.
鈥淓verything that we are talking about at COG 鈥� building safer streets 鈥� and the work of the infrastructure task force () overlaps,鈥� D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
鈥淲e will expedite the redesign of 30 corridors that have been identified as high-injury corridors,鈥� Bowser said. 鈥淲e know from our data, if we improve these corridors, we will save lives.鈥�
Some of what D.C. has been doing over the past year includes the installation of more than 900 speed humps in all eight wards, adding 53 stop signs to intersections, and expanding traffic control officer and crossing guard numbers by nearly 70 people.
鈥淎nd, we鈥檝e lowered speed limits on corridors like Connecticut Avenue and New York Avenue to make them safer for all who use them using all modes,鈥� Bowser said.
Street Smart has some .
If you鈥檙e driving
- Slow down and obey the speed limit.
- Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks.
- Be careful when passing buses or stopped vehicles.
- When turning, yield to people walking and biking.
- Look for bicyclists before opening your door.
- Allow at least 3 feet when passing bikes.
- Avoid using your cell phone and never text while driving.
- Be especially careful if you drive an SUV or pickup truck鈥攃rashes involving high profile vehicles more often result in the death or serious injury of people walking and biking.
If you鈥檙e walking
- Cross the street at the corner and use marked crosswalks when they鈥檙e available.
- Use the push-buttons.
- Wait for the walk signal to cross the street.
- Watch for turning vehicles.
- Before crossing, look left, right and left again.
- Be visible. Wear something light or reflective after dark.
- Watch out for blind spots around trucks and buses.
- Avoid using your cell phone while you鈥檙e crossing the street.
- On an off-street trail, obey all posted signage and approach intersections with caution.
If you鈥檙e biking
- Obey signs and signals.
- Never ride against traffic.
- Ride in a straight line at least 3 feet from parked cars.
- Use hand signals to tell drivers what you intend to do.
- Wear a helmet.
- Use lights at night and when visibility is poor.
- On an off-street trail, obey all posted signs and approach intersections with caution.
