MPD and DDOT will continue to partner on pedestrian safety efforts.

Contact (Media Only): Erik Linden (202) 671-2004; Kevin Morison (202) 727-9346

(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) this week continued an aggressive "Street Smart" pedestrian safety enforcement campaign during an operation in Southeast. The operation was designed to target motorists who break the law, as well as educate residents and drivers about pedestrian safety.

The campaign on May 24 featured enforcement along South Capitol Street at Brandywine Street in Southeast - a high pedestrian accident zone. Both DDOT and MPD will continue to partner on upcoming enforcement and education efforts at various locations throughout the District in the coming months.

"Our pedestrian safety campaign is truly a team effort," said acting DDOT Director Michelle Pourciau. "It's not just about ticketing motorists. It's about ensuring we have the right engineering and signage at crosswalks, and it's about educating the public about safely crossing intersections in the District."

The enforcement effort along South Capitol Street, from 9 am to 1 pm, netted 15 motorists for speeding - the highest at 51 mph in the 30 mph zone. Police issued seven citations for failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk and arrested two drivers found operating vehicles without a permit. Four citations were issued to motorists using cell phones while driving.

Eight pedestrians have been killed so far this year in the District, six of them in Ward 8. Last year there were 16 pedestrians killed in the District. Analysis of high pedestrian crash intersections in the District shows that fewer than half of all drivers yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. The law in the District requires motorists to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.