Members of the Frederick Police Department conducted a pedestrian safety enforcement detail in the area of South Market Street near Carroll Creek on Monday during the mid-day hours, citing motorists for failing to stop for crossing pedestrians.
As part of the Frederick Police Department's 2013 Highway Safety enforcement programs, officers stopped and cited 11 motorists during the early afternoon hours on Monday for failing to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk at Carroll Creek and South Market Street. The lunch time hours are a high traffic time on weekdays in that location, and officers were were out to make it clear to motorists that they need to obey all traffic laws, not only for the sake of their own safety, but also for the safety of the many people who are traveling on foot in downtown Frederick.
The state of Maryland has accumulated 77 pedestrian fatalities in 2013 so far, including 4 in Frederick County. The Frederick Police Department is committed to increasing public safety and putting the City of Frederick on track to zero motor vehicle-related deaths in 2014. The funding for pedestrian safety operations like this is currently provided by the Maryland Highway Safety Office, a division of the Motor Vehicle Administration.
The operation conducted on Monday, September 30th, consisted of 1 officer in plain clothes stationed near the targeted crosswalk and 2 uniformed officers nearby to conduct stops of violator vehicles. The plain clothes officer crossed South Market Street in the crosswalk repeatedly as vehicles approached, only entering the crosswalk when vehicles were at a safe stopping distance away from the crosswalk. Vehicles failing to stop for the officer or for other pedestrians while in the crosswalk were stopped and cited by the uniformed officers nearby.
Future downtown pedestrian safety enforcement operations are already in the planning stages, and motorists are advised to obey all traffic laws and look out for pedestrians accordingly.