Officials Remind Holiday Shoppers to Be Courteous and Safe

As the holiday season approaches, shoppers are running around buying last-minute gifts. But in the shopping frenzy, Montgomery County officials remind residents that safety is still a priority.

Research done in 2013 showed an increase in the number of pedestrian collisions in parking lots between 2010 and 2012, according to a news release. In 2012, 30 percent of pedestrian collisions occurred in parking lots.

County Executive Ike Leggett recently joined Police Chief Tom Manger and Fire Chief Steve Lohr at the Congressional Plaza shopping center in Rockville to promote safety tips to residents during the holiday season.

“We are here in a busy shopping center to emphasize awareness of seasonal and parking lot/pedestrian safety,” Leggett said. “Drivers are all about trying to find an open parking space in crowded lots. Shoppers are loaded down with packages and trying to remember where they parked. Our slogan, ‘Heads Up in Parking Lots,’ encourages both pedestrians and drivers to be on the lookout for one another.”

Montgomery County began an educational awareness campaign for parking lot and pedestrian safety in 2013. At the end of the year, statistics showed the percent of pedestrian collisions in parking lots dropped to below 25 percent.

“Each holiday season we deploy special units and conduct enforcement to help increase everyone’s safety,” said Chief Manger. “Please do your part. TAke the time to become aware of important safe driving, pedestrian and holiday practices; and make sure that safety is a top holiday priority.”

Below are safety tips sent out by Montgomery County for both drivers and pedestrians.

Respect the Space reminders:

• Drivers are reminded that it is illegal to park a vehicle without disability tags or license in a designated disability parking space. The fine is $250.
• The individual who was issued a placard or plate must be transported in the vehicle for the vehicle to legally park in a designated disability parking space.
• Parking in a striped area/access aisle adjacent to and between disability spaces is also against the law. Those striped areas allow room for wheelchair lifts to load and unload passengers.
• Disability parking spaces are located in all parking lots and garages within parking districts for the exclusive use of those with disability tags or placards. Even when vacant, they are never, even for a matter of minutes, for use by anyone else.
• If you see a vehicle without a disability tag or license plate parked in a designated disability parking space, call the police non-eergency number, 301-279-8000.

The Heads Up in Parking Lots safety message:

Drivers:

• Don’t drive distractedly – it’s illegal to hold a phone or text while driving.
• Don’t assume pedestrians see you.
• Be especially cautious backing out of a space.
• Slow down! Parking lots are not speedways.

Pedestrians:

• Stop talking on the phone and texting while walking. Take out the ear buds.
• Don’t assume drivers see you.
• Don’t walk behind a vehicle that is backing out.
• Be aware and constantly look out for moving vehicles.

Holiday Safety Tips and Reminders:

Unfortunately, “the most wonderful time of the year” can also be the most vulnerable time of the year. But, the possibility of becoming the victim of a crime or traffic/pedestrian collision can be greatly reduced by regularly following good safety practices.

Important Holiday Shopping Safety Tips include:

• Stay aware of your surroundings.
• Lock your car doors and don’t leave anything of value within view.
• If you take trips back to your vehicle to lighten your gift package load, move your car to a different parking space because potential thieves can be watching to see which vehicles contain gifts.
• Don’t hide or store gifts in your trunk when you get home from shopping. Theft from vehicle is a prevalent crime.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash.
• Keep a list of credit cards at home, in case they are stolen.
• Carry your closed purse in front of and close to your body.
• Carry a wallet in a front jacket or pants pocket.
• Don’t let your guard down because you are in a rush.
• If someone does try to rob you, don’t resist. Give up your property; do not endanger your life. Report the crime to police as soon as possible, and try to describe the attacker as accurately as possible.

Seasonal Home Safety Tips include:

• If your Christmas tree can be seen through a window, do not display presents under the tree where they can also be seen by potential burglars.
• Make sure to lock all doors and windows.
• If you are going away for the holiday, let a neighbor know that your home will not be occupied and have someone keep an eye on your home. Stop delivery, or ask someone to pick up your mail and newspapers.
• Place your lights on timers to give the appearance that the home is occupied.
• After the holidays, be sure to break down cardboard gift boxes for recycling so that a potential burglar does not know your home has a new computer, TV, video game system, etc.

Reminders from the Fire and Rescue Service include:

• Tree: Make freshness a priority. Check needles to make sure they are green and difficult to pull back from the branches. If the tree has been freshly cut, the needles should not break. Tap the tree on the ground several times. If several needles fall off, the tree is probably dried out.
• Lights: Use only lights that have been tested by an approved testing laboratory for safety. Inspect them for frayed wires, bare spots, broken or cracked sockets, excessive kinking or wear before plugging them in. Avoid stringing more than three light strands together. Always turn off tree lights, indoors or outdoors, when leaving the house and before going to sleep.
• Fireplace ashes: If possible, allow all ashes to cool in place for several days. For disposal, place ashes in an approved metal ash bucket with a tight-fitting metal lid, and wet them down. Store the container outside, away from structures, decks, fences, wood piles or other combustible materials. Never use a vacuum cleaner to pick up ashes. Don’t dispose of ashes outside on a windy day. Wind can whip up what may have seemed like cool embers, making them fiery hot and sending them traveling to ignite nearby combustibles.
• Candles: Don’t leave burning candles unattended or place candles too close to holiday decorations. Keep candles in secure holders and on a safe surface away from children and pets. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials recommend the use of battery-powered flashlights or lanterns in the event of a power outage.
• Extension Cords: Make sure that an extension cord is suitable for the electrical “load” needed. Do not place cords under furniture or rugs and do not plug two extension cords together to increase the total length. If too much power is demanded from an extension cord, overheating and fire may result. Read all packaging and instructions and ensure it is UL listed.

>>Montgomery County officials remind drivers and pedestrians to be aware of one another during the holiday season. File|Patch

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