I scratch my head in consternation over the resistance to photo enforcement. As a pedestrian who walks everyday, I continue to experience near-misses, and I wonder when my luck will run out. Most recently, I was attempting to cross Belt Road at Brandywine during rush hour, and when I stepped out, my friend yanked me back as a car blew through the stop sign to make a left. The driver never saw me. Then just a block later the light turned red, and I got the walk signal and again a yell from my friend, but I noticed in time as a car going west on Nebraska barreled through the red light.
I went home, not at all pleased, and emailed Commander Reese and copied Chief Lanier and Councilmember Mary Cheh. I had no illusions that this would do much good. I mentioned in the email that although there have been robberies in Tenleytown and Chevy Chase at gun point, that I felt more at risk of bodily harm when crossing the street. Unfortunately we do not demand the same kind of action from the police for pedestrians being hit by motorists. And we should.
It is not unusual for the driver to be excused from responsibility in a pedestrian crash. In fact, I once sat in a meeting on the Pedestrian Advisory Council when a police officer representing MPD reported that all pedestrian crashes and fatalities were pedestrian error. Well, I told him a thing or two since I had looked at the data myself.
[quote_right]Although there have been robberies in Tenleytown and Chevy Chase at gun point… I felt more at risk of bodily harm when crossing the street.[/quote_right]The fact is, speed kills. The speed limit on Connecticut Avenue is 30 miles an hour. The risk of a fatality if hit by a car at that speed is 45%. At 40 MPH it is 85% with older adults at even higher risk. So every time a driver decides to speed (and it is a decision to go 40 miles an hour on a street like Connecticut where people live and shop), this is reckless endangerment.
Now, Lisa Sutter, head of photo enforcement, is one of the best public servants I have come to know. She cares about protecting pedestrians, and what protects pedestrians also protects the driver. She knows that photo enforcement changes driver behavior. I first met her in 2010, when she gave a presentation on the near future expansion of photo enforcement. She would be getting more equipment that is mobile for speed and red light enforcement, but that’s not all. Technology would be developed for ticketing motorists who, block intersections during rush hours, barrel through stop signs and do not stop for pedestrians in cross walks. This would be a boon to parents crossing Connecticut Avenue with young toddlers on their way to the Franklin Montessori Preschool, who often have to thread their way through cars blocking the crosswalks at Albemarle and Yuma or turning into them during rush hour.
There has been much talk of photo enforcement being an undercover commuter tax or a revenue generator. It is only a revenue generator if cars continue to violate the law. This is a choice. In reality the behavior of drivers changes quickly and revenue falls precipitously. Lisa keeps good data on this. You can see the impact on Porter Street and Fox Hall Road photo enforcement in the following graphs.
But beyond photo enforcement, we need a comprehensive program of traffic enforcement in our city to make our streets safer. We can also do our part. Drivers can obey the speed limit, come to a complete stop at the stop bar before making a right turn on red, and stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, which are at every intersection with or without a marked crosswalk. Pedestrians can cross with the light in the crosswalk at such intersections. And all of us can get off our smart phones and take out our ear buds and pay attention when driving and walking.
Also let MPD know when you are almost hit attempting to cross the street. Email Commander Michael Reese, and copy Chief Lanier and your Councilmember Mary Cheh.
Phil Mendelson, as chair of the Council’s Judiciary Committee, is holding a hearing on pedestrian safety on May 30 at 10:00 AM at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, room 412. Email [email protected] to sign up to testify. Tell your story about difficulties crossing the street, near misses, or crashes. And post your story on the DC Pedestrian Advisory website. In order for police to take this issue seriously, we need to tell them our stories and keep doing so.
What’s your perspective? Share your thoughts in a comment and/or submit your own column to [email protected].
Bob Summersgill says
ANC 3F passed a resolution in support of traffic cameras at our meeting on March 12, 2012. http://anc3f.us/assets/files/documents/Resolutions/Traffic-Enforcement-Resolution.pdf
ANC 3C (Woodley Park and Cleveland Park) passed a similar resolution, and I believe other ANCs are following suit.
I testified before the Committee on the Judiciary at the MPD budget hearing on the need for traffic cameras on behalf of ANC 3F on March 30, 2012.
I thank Commissioner Adam Tope for introducing the resolution and inviting Lisa Sutter to our meeting to discuss the cameras and their clear impact on safety.
If you can attend the May 31st hearing as Marlene suggests in the article, I encourage you to do so. The Committee will also accept written statements for the record if you are unable to attend.
Bob Summersgill
Commissioner, ANC 3F07
David Falk says
I aqgree with Marlene 100%. Photo enforcement works. Keep walking and reporting, Marlene.
Kathy Pauli says
Great article, Marlene. It’s slightly tangential, but I will add that there needs to be overhaul of the entire photo-enforcement system. My own experience is that a burglar broke into my husband’s and my house in January, found the keys to our car and drove it without our permission at a time when we were not in Washington. He incurred a photo speeding ticket. My timely letter of explanation to the hearing examiner with accompanying police report (I’m too far away to appear in person, as my letter explained) was to no avail; I was held responsible. Appeal? You have to pay the ticket anyhow — and wait TWO YEARS for it to be considered. I’m not holding my breath. For pedestrians’ safety, we need photo enforcement but for fairness to citizen drivers — especially if there is an increase in photo enforcement — we also need sanity in its administration. I confess I’m among those who suspect this is a revenue measure that is not acknowledged by our government as such.
Marlene Berlin says
According to Lisa Sutter, criminals stealing cars and racking up tickets is not uncommon, unfortunately. This is an adjudication defense. The owner should send a copy of the police report (not just the number) to the DMV, as described on the back of the ticket, and the ticket will be dismissed.