Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
State Delegate William Bronrott, 301-652-6016
For Immediate Release: June 20, 2000

DUNCAN ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF
PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC SAFETY BLUE RIBBON PANEL:
Pedestrian Safety Campaigns Launched

At a downtown Bethesda intersection where a pedestrian was fatally struck last September, County Executive Douglas M. Duncan was on hand to help launch local "Safe Summer" campaigns to promote pedestrian safety and announce the formation of the Montgomery County Blue Ribbon Panel on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety. The Panel will map out an action plan to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries in the County by addressing the interrelated problems of pedestrian safety, aggressive driving, drunken driving, intersection safety, road design, traffic management, and vehicle occupant protection issues.

"For the past five years, pedestrian fatalities in the County have exceeded the number of homicides during the same time period," said Duncan. "These tragedies can and must be prevented. We must take even more aggressive measures to make our streets safer."

Today's event, scheduled to coincide with the first day of summer, launched the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Pedestrian Safety Coalition and the new Greater Silver Spring Pedestrian Safety Coalition "Safe Summer" campaigns to urge motorists and pedestrians to "Drive With Care, Walk With Caution." The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Coalition was established last year at the behest of Maryland Delegate William A. Bronrott (District 16), and includes an alliance of community leaders; businesses; health, safety and environmental advocacy groups; and State and County officials. Duncan appointed Bronrott to serve as the Blue Ribbon Panel's Chair.

"Crossing the street should not have to be a death-defying act," said Bronrott. "The goal of our summer campaign and the County Executive's new task force is to make sure that the heavy mix of motor vehicles and pedestrians is not a lethal one. I am grateful to our County Executive for his leadership on this major public safety problem. I am honored to be asked to serve as chair, and I accept this important challenge to develop a blueprint for action that will guide our County's efforts to bring the death toll down."

In 1999, there were 13 homicides in Montgomery County compared with 18 pedestrian fatalities. So far in 2000, there have been three homicides and four pedestrian deaths. Statewide in 1999, pedestrian fatalities comprised 20 percent of all traffic deaths, compared with 37 percent in Montgomery County. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, amongst the four largest metropolitan jurisdictions, Montgomery County last year had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities (18) compared with the District of Columbia (16), Prince Georges County (16), and Fairfax County (13).

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