News: Street Smart Intiative Aims to Save Lives and Prevent Injuries by Reminding Motorists, Pedestrians and Cyclists to Share the Road

(Nov. 13, 2012) - Fall in the metropolitan Washington area means many things to many people, and to the region’s safety advocates, it means it’s time to remind area drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to look out for each other. The end of Daylight Savings Time this month, one less hour of daylight during the evening commute, creates reduced visibility and that can lead to more frequent collisions between cars and pedestrians or cyclists.

To curb pedestrian or cyclist injuries & fatalities in the region, Street Smart will kick off its Fall safety campaign on Wednesday morning at the intersection of Belmont Ridge Rd. (Route 659) and the W&OD Trail in Ashburn. State and local officials will join with law enforcement and pedestrian and bicycle safety advocates from across the region to remind residents to remain alert, share the road and obey traffic laws.


As part of the campaign, law enforcement will be out in force from November 14 through November 25, ticketing motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists who don’t follow area traffic safety laws.

About Street Smart
Sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), the Street Smart public awareness and enforcement campaign is in its eleventh year. Aimed at reducing the number of pedestrian and cyclist injuries and deaths in the Washington metropolitan area, the campaign uses creative radio and television advertising in English and Spanish to reach drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, while targeting them through outdoor and transit advertising on bus shelters and bus sides. In addition, law enforcement and local, county and state agencies will be distributing handouts and tip cards to further spread awareness and educate drivers and pedestrians. For more information about Street Smart, please visit www.bestreetsmart.net and twitter.com/COGStreetSmart .

About the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) 
The TPB is the regional transportation planning organization for the Washington region. It includes local governments, state transportation agencies, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and members of the Maryland and Virginia General Assemblies.