As Montgomery County students prepare to return to school, local officials are working to make sure their commute is safe. County Executive Marc Elrich, alongside Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), has announced a crackdown on dangerous driving near schools. Starting Monday, Aug. 26, as over 160,000 students return to 211 schools, law enforcement will increase and reach out to drivers who speed, ignore red lights, and fail to yield to pedestrians.
"Far too often we see drivers who are not paying attention or are speeding when our kids are going to and from school," Elrich said. With the new academic year unfolding, the MCPD's Central Traffic Unit is set to vigilantly monitor school zones for traffic violations. Moreover, the Automated Traffic Enforcement Unit will strategically install speed cameras and outfit school buses with cameras to penal catch—and fine—drivers bypassing stopped buses, as stated on the county's official announcement.
According to MCPD's Police Chief Marc Yamada, over the previous school year, more than 48,000 drivers were caught on camera passing stopped school buses illegally. The violators face penalties of $250 if caught by cameras, with those stopped by a police officer facing up to $570 fines and three points on their driver's license.
The county's Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program isn't just relying on enforcement to keep students safe. It also emphasizes education, outreach, and infrastructure enhancements. MCDOT's Chris Conklin underscored the importance of these combined strategies: "Our teams work year-round to improve pedestrian safety around our schools by adding sidewalks, paths and safe crossings," he explained, as detailed by county's official website.
The SRTS program plans to evaluate walk areas for each MCPS school, with about 15 assessments leading to safety improvements each year. This past summer, changes were made to enhance crossings and create uninterrupted pedestrian pathways around several schools. On top of infrastructure, the program will be present at events like the back-to-school fair on August 24 to provide resources and guidance directly to the community on how to navigate school routes safely.
Residents are encouraged to visit the Montgomery County Safe Routes to School website for more details on the program and to access free resources aimed at ensuring children's safety to and from school.
