Montgomery County Police Remind Pedestrians to be Careful

Montgomery County Police Remind Pedestrians to be Careful

During March, there have been several incidents involving pedestrians in Montgomery County, Maryland.  A pedestrian was struck by an automobile on a street near our home.  When I take regular walks through the Kentlands community , I frequently see careless drivers as they talk on their cell phones while driving through the area.  It is against the law to use a cell phone while driving but many appear to be above the law.

As a friendly reminder, the Montgomery County Police are offering a few tips that will help make the roads a safer place.

Drivers

• Look for pedestrians before you enter or exit a driveway. This is when you cross the sidewalk where pedestrians walk. Since they are on the sidewalk, they might be less alert than when crossing streets.
• Look all around your vehicle, all the time.  Keep your eyes moving.
• With the spring coming, be on the look out for increased pedestrian traffic, increased bicycle traffic, and an increase in children playing at parks, in school yards, and in residential areas.  Look for pedestrians stepping out from between parked cars. Where there are a lot of parked cars, there will likely be pedestrians

Pedestrians

• Stay alert while crossing roadways.  Refrain from phone use, texting, and wearing ear buds.
• Be seen.  Wear clothing with bright visible colors or even reflective cloth.  If your clothing is dark, it is more difficult to be seen in any adverse light conditions.
• Be proactive by watching traffic when crossing. Always cross at a controlled intersection. At the signal, cross only when the “walk” signal is displayed.
• Before crossing, first look left, then right, then left again to check for any traffic.
• Parents are the most important models of proper pedestrian behavior for children.

Remember, be an engaged pedestrian.  It may save your life.

Hibiscus, Kentlands, Spring Flowers IMG_9170

Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera.

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs