mETRO SCENE: D.C. Police on pedestrian safety

Andrew Zabavsky, an officer from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department distributed Street Safety Tips brochures to the pedestrians near Dupont Circle on Tuesday June 18th.  Brochure distribution is the part of Street Smart Campaign, an annual public education, awareness  and behavioral change program in Washington, D.C., suburban Maryland, and northern Virginia area. The goals of the campaign are to change motorist and pedestrian behavior, and reduce pedestrian and bicyclist deaths and injuries by educating the public about safe usage of roadways and traffic signs. The Washington region ranks 20th out of the 52 largest metropolitan areas in pedestrian deaths. On average, over 2,600 pedestrians and bicyclists are injured in the region every year, and 89 are killed.