Traffic safety campaign kicks off (but not here)

By Michael Bolden

Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District are kicking off an annual pedestrian and cyclist safety campaign today.

Law enforcement throughout the region plan to gather in Rosslyn to roll out the Street Smart program, part of an effort to increase awareness and reduce pedestrian- and cyclist-related deaths. According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, there were 78 pedestrian and cyclist deaths in the Washington region in 2009, accounting for 27 percent of all traffic-related fatalities.
[B' Spokes: 64 pedestrian and cyclist deaths in the Baltimore region in 2009, accounting for 27 percent of all traffic-related fatalities.]

As part of the effort, Arlington police are conducting two targeted enforcement sweeps along Wilson Boulevard today to encourage pedestrians and drivers to follow traffic laws. The first occurred this morning from 7 to 9 a.m., and the second is scheduled from 12 to 1 p.m.
[B' Spokes: Unlike here, if and when we do this we target j-walking pedestrains.]

Authorities from around the region are expected to gather around 12:30 p.m.
<a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dr-gridlock/2010/11/traffic_safety_campaign_kicks.html">http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dr-gridlock/2010/11/traffic_safety_campaign_kicks.html</a>;
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From Greater Greater Washington:
Arlington police step up enforcement: On Monday, Arlington County Police were out ticketing drivers and pedestrians, as part of MWCOG's Street Smart program. Yesterday the police cited 33 drivers for infractions from failing to yield to pedestrians to blocking the intersection. (TBD)
[B' Spokes: Anyone else notice the lack of public information on how many drivers are ticketed here during our pedestrian safety campaigns? Why does Balto Metro think that drivers failing to yield to pedestrians and blocking the intersection, can't possibly lead to pedestrians j-walking... seriously? We are so stuck in the windshield perspective that few notice the lawlessness of drivers and their effect on other road users.]
<a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=8059">http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=8059</a>;