Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
State Delegate William Bronrott, 301-652-6016
Montgomery County Press Release
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).

"The magnitude of these issues, pedestrian safety in particular and traffic

(Continued on page 2)