WASHINGTON — With the end of daylight saving time this weekend, transportation officials in the D.C. area are warning drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to be more alert.
Safety officials say shorter daylight hours in the fall and winter typically lead to a spike in crashes involving pedestrians.
In the last 30 days, crashes in the region have resulted in four pedestrian deaths. So officials are asking commuters to exercise caution, watch out for each other and obey traffic laws.
The Street Smart safety awareness campaign in D.C., Maryland and Virginia asks drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to be extra careful, with standard time brings darker evening commuting hours.
To support the effort, now through Dec. 3, police departments in the region will be stepping up their efforts to enforce the laws protecting pedestrians and bicyclists.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2015, 74 percent of pedestrian fatalities nationwide occurred during the dark, dusk-till-dawn hours, with one in four happening between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The Street Smart campaign offers these common sense safety tips for all travelers:
If you’re driving …
If you’re walking …
If you’re biking …
Learn more about Street Smart.
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