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Friday, March 26, 2010

Street Smart Launches Spring Pedestrian Safety Campaign

On March 23, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett welcomed regional leaders to Silver Spring for the launch of the spring Street Smart pedestrian safety campaign.  This year’s campaign focuses on the message “speed kills,” which was graphically demonstrated using a foam-padded, child-sized dummy.  A pick-up truck operator driving at 25 mph and was able to stop in time to avoid hitting the pedestrian dummy.  However, at 35 mph, the vehicle collided with the dummy. 

Leggett explained that speeding on residential streets and in school zones is unacceptable.  A recent study of areas in the County where traffic calming measures were implemented showed they reduced speeds by as much as 10 mph – which has translated into a 70 to 100 percent reduction in collisions. 

The direct connection between speed and collisions is why speed cameras are so effective in improving safety.  A study has shown the cameras are effectively slowing traffic, by as much as 70 percent – and reducing collisions.

To see the Street Smart campaign materials, including the television ad, go to www.mwcog.org/streetsmart.

CATEGORIES: Pedestrian Safety
POSTED AT: 10:22:00 AM |