MPD Installing New Photo Enforcement Cameras

On Friday, I happened upon MPD Photo Enforcement Program Manager Lisa Sutter and several of her colleagues as they were testing a newly installed mobile speed camera.  The photo that was up on the laptop screen as I looked over  the technician's shoulder showed a crystal clear photo of the back side of a car that was recorded traveling 37.7 miles per hour, more than 12 miles per hour over the legal speed limit.  Once this camera is operational, a car like this would be issued a speeding ticket.

This mobile speed camera is one of 132 new photo enforcement units that MPD will be installing across D.C. between now and the end of September, including:

• 32 portable speed cameras;
• 24 intersection speed cameras;
• 20 gridlock cameras (to catch "blocking the box" violations);
• 32 stop sign cameras;
• 16 cameras to catch vehicles that fail to stop for pedestrians; and
• 8 cameras to catch violations of oversized vehicles on restricted routes.

Following proposals to limit D.C.'s planned expansion of the photo enforcement program, in July, the D.C. Pedestrian Advisory Council and the D.C. Bicycle Advisory Council sent a letter to the D.C. Council recommending that the D.C. government continue with the planned expansion to protect pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.

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Written by Jason Broehm

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Don't Miss the 2013 Walking Summit in D.C.

On October 1-3, hundreds of pedestrian advocates from across the country will convene in Washington, D.C. for the 2013 Walking Summit.  The conference agenda will feature engaging capacity building sessions, a dance walk, a dance party, and plenty of opportunities to learn while walking.  Two of the D.C. Pedestrian Advisory Council's government agency representatives will lead walking tours: on October 1, DDOT's George Branyan will lead a tour focusing on pedestrian infrastructure improvements in and around D.C.'s Petworth neighborhood, and on October 2, the Office of Planning's Chris Shaheen will lead a tour that will feature D.C.'s park system and how it transformed Washington from "gritty to garden city."

Early bird registration, which is only $150, has been extended until Monday, August 19.  After that, the registration fee will go up to $225.  Don't wait, register for the 2013 Walking Summit today!

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Written by Jason Broehm

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Pedestrian Fatalities Are Much More than Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nationwide a pedestrian is struck and injured by a motor vehicle every 8 minutes and killed every two hours.  In 2012, more than 800 pedestrians were struck by vehicles in D.C., and 8 pedestrians died as a result of their injuries.  Fortunately, the number of pedestrian fatalities has declined slightly in recent years, but according to 2011 data from NHTSA, D.C.'s rate of pedestrian fatalities is above the national average.

And most importantly, behind these statistics are real people whose lives ended prematurely and needlessly.  DCist recently reported on two young mothers in D.C. who lost their lives after being hit by motor vehicles, sadly leaving behind children who will grow up without their mothers.  In late July, 30-year-old Georgette Jones was struck and killed by a Chevy Tahoe in the 500 block of Eastern Avenue NE.  Laura Nicole Rinaldi was struck by a dump truck at the intersection of 4th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW and succumbed to her injuries on July 28, at the age of just 38.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced two new tools to help communities reduce the rising number of pedestrian deaths across the U.S. over the last two years.  DOT unveiled a new Everyone is a Pedestrian website with information about improving pedestrian safety.  The agency also announced the availability of $2 million in pedestrian safety grants to be used for education and enforcement, and 22 cities with the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities are eligible to apply.  D.C. is among these cities, and I certainly hope D.C. will apply for this funding.

In a WAMU online poll that appears with an article about the announcement, about 60 percent of respondents report that they do not feel safe as pedestrians in D.C.

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Written by Jason Broehm

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