'Street Smart' Regional Campaign Urges Increased Attention on Roadways

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is joining forces with law enforcement agencies across the region as part of the “Street Smart campaign,” which aims to reduce the number of crashes involving pedestrians through the month of November.

With increasing safety concerns due to darkness falling an hour earlier after daylight saving time, drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists are urged to share the road and pay extra attention to one another.

Now in its 12th year, the Street Smart public awareness and enforcement campaign aims to reduce pedestrian and cyclist injuries and deaths in the Washington metropolitan area. Since 2013, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has responded to 63 crashes involving pedestrians, four of which were fatal. The agency also responded to 23 crashes involving bicyclists during the same time period.

As a component of the campaign, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Unit is conducting an education and enforcement campaign in areas of high traffic pedestrian and bicycle crossings.

“It is important to bring attention to pedestrian and bicycle safety and to ensure residents know the rules of the roadway,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman.

The Street Smart campaign urges commuters to avoid distractions such as cell phones, reminds drivers to slow down and yield to those on foot or on bicycles at intersections, and encourages pedestrians and bicyclists to wear light colors or something reflective to be more visible.

Motorists are reminded to yield the right of way to pedestrians when they are within a marked crosswalk. Pedestrians are reminded to cross at appropriate locations and consider their safety first.

Law enforcement officials from across the region will be ticketing drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who violate traffic safety laws.

Image: Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (Source: Facebook)