Transcript Pedestrian Safety Enforcement

Pedestrian Safety
Enforcement:
The Maryland Experience
Pro Walk/Pro Bike
September 8, 2004
George Branyan
Pedestrian & Special Programs Coordinator
SHA-MHSO
Maryland Pedestrian Crash Data
(5-year average, 1999-2003)






109 fatalities (119 in 2003)
17% of total traffic fatalities
MD ranks 13th for fatalities in the US (per
population)
2887 injuries
84% of all crashes and 73% of fatal crashes
occur in the 5 most populous jurisdictions
6% of crashes involve the elderly, but they
account for 16% of all fatal crashes
Maryland Pedestrian Crash Data
(5-year average, 1999-2003)





53% of all crashes and 70% of fatal crashes
occur from 4 pm to 4 am
28% of fatalities involve alcohol on the part of
the pedestrian and 8% on the part of the
driver, but…
57% of fatalities occur on US/State Roads
55% of all crashes and 72% of fatalities occur
not in a crosswalk
39% of all crashes and 54% of fatalities occur
not at an intersection
At Fault Pedestrian, Cyclist, and
Driver Crash Data
Montgomery County Traffic Collisions Involving Pedestrians
for January - December 2002
by Percentage At Fault and Unit Type
TOTAL PEDESTRIAN
COLLISIONS 470
Pedestrian
32.6%
Bicyclist
7.2%
Unknown
8.1%
Both
6.4%
Other
4.3%
Parked
0.2%
Driver
41.3%
Real-World Pedestrian Problems


Pedestrians cross where they cross for a
REASON
Pedestrians often cross mid-block
because intersections seem threatening
Challenging Suburban Environments
Many suburban roads in the
state have high pedestrian
volumes, high vehicle
speeds, and long distances
between signalized
intersections.
MD 193 between MD 650 & MD 212
MD 650 at Langley Park
What Works in Pedestrian Safety
Enforcement?


The Crosswalk must have meaning for both
drivers and pedestrians.
Target the DRIVER as well as the pedestrian.
Seattle PD gave 500,000 jaywalking tickets and
found few safety gains, but dramatic public
resentment.
 Success achieved when strategy changed to focus
on driver as well as pedestrian behavior and
roadway/crosswalk design.

Pedestrian Enforcement Issues
1990 NHTSA report on pedestrian enforcement
found many reasons given by police for not
enforcing pedestrian safety laws:





Peer Pressure – “Ped violations aren’t real crimes,
it’s not real police work.”
Social Pressure – Questions from the public, “Why
aren’t you out catching robbers and murderers?”
Police Administration – “My Chief (Lt. , Sgt., etc.)
doesn’t want me to do it.”
Courts – “My calendar is crammed and you bring
me this petty matter?”
Fines – Fines may be too high or too low. May
require a “must appear.”
Importance of the third “E”
Enforcement
The Need for Police Enforcement:
 Un-enforced laws will be ignored
 Enforcement gives credibility to
engineering and education interventions
 Increases driver awareness
 Increases compliance and saves lives
 Enhances “walkability” of communities
Impact of Crosswalk Enforcement

Washington State conducted a before-during-after multiple
comparison study of targeted crosswalk enforcement (2003).
T A R G ET ED P ED ES T R IA N EN F O R C EM EN T S T U D Y
P E R C E N T O F D R IV E R S S T O P P IN G
C IT Y
T YP E O F S IT E
CONTROL
S TUDY P HAS E
B EF O R E
4 0 .4 %
D U R IN G
5 9 .6 %
A F T ER
6 5 .5 %
B EF O R E
4 9 .3 %
D U R IN G
6 3 .1 %
A F T ER
7 4 .4 %
B EF O R E
2 6 .4 %
D U R IN G
3 1 .7 %
A F T ER
1 9 .7 %
B EL L IN G H A M
EN F O R C EM EN T
O L YM P IA
CONTROL
NN
OO P E R C E N T
FF S T O P F O R
DS
P ED
RI
Maryland Pedestrian Safety
Enforcement Initiative

Multi-Jurisdictional:
Overtime highway safety
grant funds in 10
jurisdictions ($200,000)

Created in 2002
Training workshops and
recognition events
Educational materials, law
card, warning tickets
Encourage publicity about
enforcement – it’s the best
education
Balanced enforcement




Dan Burden & John Moffat
Enforcement Resources

Maryland Pedestrian Enforcement Program Manual
Enforcement
Program Manual
 How to set up
crosswalk and
intersection
enforcement
 How to effectively
enforce laws on
pedestrians
 Resources &
training materials
 Contact the
“experts” section
Maryland Pedestrian
Safety Law
Enforcement Initiative
Program Manual
Maryland Highway Safety
Office
State Highway Administration
Enforcement Resources

Crosswalk Law Card
Maryland Pedestrian Safety
Law for Drivers
Maryland Pedestrian Safety
Law for Drivers
At crosswalks without signals, the
driver of a vehicle must stop for a
pedestrian when:
 the pedestrian is on the half of the
roadway on which the vehicle is
traveling.
 the pedestrian is approaching from an
adjacent lane on the other half of the
roadway.
(§ 21-502 (a)(2))
Fine: Up to $500 and/or up to 2 months in jail.
One Point. Must Appear in Court.
At intersections or crosswalks
with signals:
 drivers proceeding on a green signal,
including drivers turning right or left,
shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within the adjacent
crosswalk.
(§ 21-202 (c) & (d))
Fine: $75. One Point.
Maryland Highway Safety Office
State Highway Administration
7491 Connelley Drive
Hanover, MD 21076
Telephone: (410) 582-5578
Toll Free: (888) 963-0307

Driver/Ped Warning Ticket
DRIVER WARNING
21-502(2)
Failure to stop for pedestrian in crosswal k
Driver of a vehicle shall come to a complete stop when a pedestrian
crossing the roadway in a crosswalk is: (i) on the half of the roadway
on which the vehicle is traveling or (ii) approaching from an
adjacent lane on the other half of the roadway.
Penalty: MA- Up to $500.00 and/or up to 2 months in jail.
21-502(c)
Passing a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian
It is unlawful for a driver to pass a vehicle that is stopped for a
pedestrian either in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
Penalty: MA- Up to $500.00 and/or up to 2 months in jail.
21-202(c)
Failure to yield right-of-way when turning
on green signal
Vehicles facing a circular green signal, including any vehicle turning
left or right, shall yield right-of-way to any pedestrian lawfully within
an adjacent crosswalk.
Penalty: $75 or up to $500.00. One Point.
21-202(h)
Failure to stop at clearly marked stop line
Vehicles facing a steady circular red signal or red arrow signal shall
stop at the near side of the intersection at a clearly marked stop line,
or before entering the crosswalk.
Penalty: $125 or up to $500.00. Two Points.
21-202(k)
DID UNLAWFULLY VIOLATE:
Failure to obey red traffic signal
21-202(l)
Pedestrian facing a steady red traffic signal alone
may not enter the roadway.
Penalty: $35 or up to $500.00.
21-203(b)
21-504(a,b,c) Failure to exercise due care to avoid
hitting a pedestrian
The driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding
with any pedestrian, shall warn any pedestrian by sounding a
horn, and shall exercise proper precaution on observing any
confused or incapacitated pedestrians.
Penalty: $55 or up to $500.00. One Point.
21-801(h)
Special dangers as to pedestrians
The driver of a vehicle shall drive at an appropriate, reduced speed
when any special danger exists as to pedestrians.
Penalty: $70 or up to $500.00. One Point.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A WARNING FOR FAILURE
TO ABIDE BY THE MARYLAND LAW(S) INDICATED ABOVE.
THIS IS ONLY A WARNING
AND WILL NOT RESULT IN ANY LEGAL ACTION.
HOWEVER, FURTHER VIOLATIONS WILL RESULT IN
AN ACTUAL CITIATION BEING ISSUED.
On average, every year more than
100 pedestrians are killed
and nearly
3,000 pedestrians are injured
in Maryland as a result of
collisions with motor vehicles.
Maryland Highway Safety Office
State Highway Administration
(410) 582-5578
Toll Free: (888) 963-0307
www.marylandroads.com
Failure to obey pedestrian control signal
Pedestrian may not start to cross the roadway in
the direction of a solid “don’t walk” or “upraised
hand” signal.
Penalty: $35 or up to $500.00.
21-503(a)
Failure to yield right-of-way to vehicle
If a pedestrian crosses a roadway at any point other
than in a marked crosswalk or in an unmarked
crosswalk at an intersection, the pedestrian shall
yield the right-of-way to any vehicle.
Penalty: $35 or up to $500.00.
21-503(c)
Failure to cross at signalized intersection
Between adjacent intersections at which a traffic
control signal is in operation, a pedestrian may cross
only in a marked crosswalk.
Penalty: $35 or up to $500.00.
Failure to yield to pedestrian before turn
on red
Vehicles facing a red signal shall, after stopping, yield the right-ofway to any pedestrian lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk.
Penalty: $75 or up to $500.00. Two Points.
Look Out for Each Other!
See reverse side for explanation of laws.
PEDESTRIAN WARNING
DID UNLAWFULLY VIOLATE:
21-503(d)
Crossing intersection diagonally
Pedestrian may not cross an intersection diagonally
unless authorized by a traffic control device.
Penalty: $35 or up to $500.00.
21-506(a,b) Pedestrian unlawfully on roadway
Where a sidewalk is provided, a pedestrian may not
walk along and on an adjacent roadway. Where no
sidewalk is provided, a pedestrian may walk only on
the left shoulder or on the left side of the roadway,
facing traffic.
Penalty: $35 or up to $500.00.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A WARNING FOR FAILURE
TO ABIDE BY THE MARYLAND LAW(S) INDICATED ABOVE.
THIS IS ONLY A WARNING
AND WILL NOT RESULT IN ANY LEGAL ACTION.
HOWEVER, FUTHER VIOLATIONS WILL RESULT IN
AN ACTUAL CITIATION BEING ISSUED.
On average, every year more than
100 pedestrians are killed
and nearly
3,000 pedestrians are injured
in Maryland as a result of
collisions with motor vehicles
Look Out for Each Other!
Maryland Highway Safety Office
State Highway Administration
(410) 582-5578
Toll Free: (888) 963-0307
www.marylandroads.com
Pedestrian Enforcement Training, 2002 & 2004
Annapolis
College Park
MD Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Initiative
Greenbelt City
Baltimore City
MD Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Initiative
Pedestrian refuge island
& mid-block crosswalk
constructed by MD State
Highway Administration
Baltimore County
Educating Pedestrians

Education of pedestrians with selective, highly publicized
education/enforcement.
C-SAFE Initiative – International
Corridor, suburban Washington
MD Pedestrian Safety Enforcement
Program Results, 2004
13 police departments participating
 Over 40 crosswalk enforcement events
 Nearly 750 citations and 536 warnings
given to drivers at crosswalk enforcement
events
 258 warnings and 748 educational
brochures given to pedestrians
 Over 2000 speeding citations
 19 arrests, including 7 unlicensed drivers,
1 stolen car, 1 DUI arrest

MD Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Initiative
 Publicity about enforcement
Montgomery County
MD Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Initiative

Publicity about enforcement
Enforcement-related Education Efforts
STREET SMART Pedestrian Safety Media
Campaign







Conducted since 2002
Washington and Baltimore
metro areas
Funded by highway safety
grant funds (DC, MD, VA)
Targets pedestrians &
drivers
English and Spanish
4 week campaigns
Survey evaluation
Enforcement-related Education Efforts
Targeting Pedestrians
Interior Bus Card
Transit shelter
Poster
Tip Card
Enforcement-related Education Efforts
Targeting Drivers
Radio PSA
Bus Backs
Tip Card
Enforcement-related Education Efforts
Awareness of Enforcement, 2002

Comparison of pre and post measurement indicates that
unaided awareness of police efforts to crack down on drivers
who do not yield to pedestrians increased 4 percentage points.
HEARD ABOUT POLICE EFFORTS TO CRACK DOWN ON DRIVERS
WHO DO NOT YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS
40
35
24%
20%
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Pre
Post
Awareness of Enforcement, 2004
2004 Baltimore campaign did not generate an increase in
unaided awareness of police efforts to crack down on drivers
who do not yield to pedestrians but it was higher than in DC.

% SAYING CHANCE OF GETTING TICKET IS
LIKELY FOR NOT YIELDING TO
PEDESTRIAN IN CROSSWALK
40
28%
30%
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Benchmark
Post
Conclusions-Recommendations






Get your state highway safety office to create a
pedestrian safety enforcement program!
Enlist partners that can help increase publicity
about enforcement, e.g. county gov’ts, police PIOs,
sympathetic reporters, etc.
Good training is important
Recognition is a must with cops!
Enlist partners that can help with media campaigns,
such as MPOs.
Remove statutory obstacles & educate the judiciary
Pedestrian Enforcement Training
Resources

Walkable Communities, Inc. (www.walkable.org)
John Moffat, former director of the Washington
Traffic Safety Commission. ([email protected])
 Dan Burden, nationally recognized expert in
pedestrian access and safety. ([email protected])


Center for Education & Research in Safety
(www.cers-safety.com)
Ron Van Houten, Ph.D
 J. E. Louis Malenfant, Ph.D

Please contact me for more
information
George Branyan
Pedestrian and Special Programs
Coordinator
Maryland Highway Safety Office
410 582-5578
[email protected]