1. Pedestrian Safety Enforcement: The Maryland Experience George Branyan Pedestrian & Special Programs Coordinator SHA-MHSO Pro Walk/Pro Bike September 8, 2004

2. Maryland Pedestrian Crash Data (5-year average, 1999-2003) 109 fatalities (119 in 2003) 109 fatalities (119 in 2003) 17% of total traffic fatalities 17% of total traffic fatalities MD ranks 13 th for fatalities in the US (per population) MD ranks 13 th for fatalities in the US (per population) 2887 injuries 2887 injuries 84% of all crashes and 73% of fatal crashes occur in the 5 most populous jurisdictions 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 6% of crashes involve the elderly, but they account for 16% of all fatal crashes

3. 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 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… 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 57% of fatalities occur on US/State Roads 55% of all crashes and 72% of fatalities occur not in a crosswalk 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 39% of all crashes and 54% of fatalities occur not at an intersection

4. At Fault Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Driver Crash Data

5. Pedestrians cross where they cross for a REASON Pedestrians cross where they cross for a REASON Pedestrians often cross mid-block because intersections seem threatening Pedestrians often cross mid-block because intersections seem threatening Real-World Pedestrian Problems

6. 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

7. What Works in Pedestrian Safety Enforcement? The Crosswalk must have meaning for both drivers and pedestrians. The Crosswalk must have meaning for both drivers and pedestrians. Target the DRIVER as well as the pedestrian. Target the DRIVER as well as the pedestrian. Seattle PD gave 500,000 jaywalking tickets and found few safety gains, but dramatic public resentment. 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. Success achieved when strategy changed to focus on driver as well as pedestrian behavior and roadway/crosswalk design.

8. Pedestrian Enforcement Issues Peer Pressure – “Ped violations aren’t real crimes, it’s not real police work.” 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?” 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.” 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?” 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.” Fines – Fines may be too high or too low. May require a “must appear.” 1990 NHTSA report on pedestrian enforcement found many reasons given by police for not enforcing pedestrian safety laws:

9. Importance of the third “E” Enforcement The Need for Police Enforcement: Un-enforced laws will be ignored Un-enforced laws will be ignored Enforcement gives credibility to engineering and education interventions Enforcement gives credibility to engineering and education interventions Increases driver awareness Increases driver awareness Increases compliance and saves lives Increases compliance and saves lives Enhances “walkability” of communities Enhances “walkability” of communities

10. Impact of Crosswalk Enforcement Washington State conducted a before-during-after multiple comparison study of targeted crosswalk enforcement (2003).

11. Maryland Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Initiative Multi-Jurisdictional: Overtime highway safety grant funds in 10 jurisdictions ($200,000) Multi-Jurisdictional: Overtime highway safety grant funds in 10 jurisdictions ($200,000) Created in 2002 Created in 2002 Training workshops and recognition events Training workshops and recognition events Educational materials, law card, warning tickets Educational materials, law card, warning tickets Encourage publicity about enforcement – it’s the best education Encourage publicity about enforcement – it’s the best education Balanced enforcement Balanced enforcement Dan Burden & John Moffat

12. Enforcement Resources Enforcement Program Manual Enforcement Program Manual How to set up crosswalk and intersection enforcement How to set up crosswalk and intersection enforcement How to effectively enforce laws on pedestrians How to effectively enforce laws on pedestrians Resources & training materials Resources & training materials Contact the “experts” section Contact the “experts” section

13. Enforcement Resources Crosswalk Law Card Crosswalk Law Card Driver/Ped Warning Ticket Driver/Ped Warning Ticket

14. Pedestrian Enforcement Training, 2002 & 2004 Annapolis College Park

15. MD Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Initiative Baltimore City Greenbelt City

16. MD Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Initiative Baltimore County Pedestrian refuge island & mid-block crosswalk constructed by MD State Highway Administration

17. Educating Pedestrians Education of pedestrians with selective, highly publicized education/enforcement. C-SAFE Initiative – International Corridor, suburban Washington

18. 13 police departments participating 13 police departments participating Over 40 crosswalk enforcement events Over 40 crosswalk enforcement events Nearly 750 citations and 536 warnings given to drivers at 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 258 warnings and 748 educational brochures given to pedestrians Over 2000 speeding citations Over 2000 speeding citations 19 arrests, including 7 unlicensed drivers, 1 stolen car, 1 DUI arrest 19 arrests, including 7 unlicensed drivers, 1 stolen car, 1 DUI arrest MD Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Program Results, 2004

19. MD Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Initiative Montgomery County Publicity about enforcement Publicity about enforcement

20. MD Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Initiative Publicity about enforcement Publicity about enforcement

21. 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 STREET SMART Pedestrian Safety Media Campaign

22. Enforcement-related Education Efforts Tip Card Interior Bus Card Transit shelter Poster Targeting Pedestrians

23. Enforcement-related Education Efforts Targeting Drivers Tip Card Radio PSA Bus Backs

24. Enforcement-related Education Efforts

25. 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. 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.

26. 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. 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.

27. Conclusions-Recommendations Get your state highway safety office to create a pedestrian safety enforcement program! 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. Enlist partners that can help increase publicity about enforcement, e.g. county gov’ts, police PIOs, sympathetic reporters, etc. Good training is important Good training is important Recognition is a must with cops! Recognition is a must with cops! Enlist partners that can help with media campaigns, such as MPOs. Enlist partners that can help with media campaigns, such as MPOs. Remove statutory obstacles & educate the judiciary Remove statutory obstacles & educate the judiciary

28. Pedestrian Enforcement Training Resources Walkable Communities, Inc. (www.w alkable.org) Walkable Communities, Inc. (www.w alkable.org) John Moffat, former director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. (johnmoffat@aol.com) John Moffat, former director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. (johnmoffat@aol.com) Dan Burden, nationally recognized expert in pedestrian access and safety. (DBurden@aol.com) Dan Burden, nationally recognized expert in pedestrian access and safety. (DBurden@aol.com) Center for Education & Research in Safety (www.cers-safety.com) Center for Education & Research in Safety (www.cers-safety.com) Ron Van Houten, Ph.D Ron Van Houten, Ph.D J. E. Louis Malenfant, Ph.D J. E. Louis Malenfant, Ph.D

29. Please contact me for more information George Branyan Pedestrian and Special Programs Coordinator Maryland Highway Safety Office 410 582-5578 gbranyan@sha.state.md.us