Despite perception, Montgomery Co. did not have the most 2019 pedestrian deaths in the DMV

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (WJLA) — Despite common perception, Montgomery County did not have the most pedestrian and bicyclist deaths across the DMV last year.

The uncoveted title went to Prince George's County, which recorded 23 pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in 2019. Montgomery County, by comparison, had 14.

Prince George's has around 150,000 fewer residents than Montgomery. Its pedestrian fatality rate, however, is significantly higher at 2.53 deaths per 100,000 residents. Montgomery County's rate is 1.33 deaths per 100,000 residents. In fact, Prince George's County, Fairfax County, D.C., Arlington County and Anne Arundel County all had higher per capita pedestrian death rates than Montgomery.

So, why has Montgomery County become the poster child for pedestrian accidents? For one, Councilmembers like Evan Glass (D-At Large), Tom Hucker (D-District 5) and Hans Riemer (D-At Large) are very outspoken on pedestrian safety, as is County Executive Marc Elrich (D). Glass recently held a town hall on the topic, and more are planned. Meanwhile, Elrich just committed $266 million towards projects that will make roads safer for everyone.

2019 Pedestrian, Bicyclist Deaths Across The DMV:

• Prince George's County, Md.: 23 (21 pedestrians and two bicyclists / 909,308 residents / 2.53 deaths per 100,000 people)
• Fairfax County, Va.: 16 (no bicyclist deaths / 1,150,795 residents / 1.39 deaths per 100,000 people)
• D.C.: 14 (12 pedestrians and two bicyclists / 705,749 residents / 1.98 deaths per 100,000 people)
• Montgomery County, Md.: 14 (13 pedestrians and one bicyclist / 1,052,567 residents / 1.33 deaths per 100,000 people)
• Anne Arundel County, Md.: 8 (seven pedestrians and one bicyclist / 576,031 residents / 1.38 deaths per 100,000 people)
• Arlington County, Va.: 4 (no bicyclist deaths / 237,511 residents / 1.68 deaths per 100,000 people)
• Prince William County, Va.: 4 (no bicyclist deaths / 468,011 residents / .85 deaths per 100,000 people)
• Alexandria City, Va.: 2 (no bicyclist deaths / 160,530 residents / 1.25 deaths per 100,000 people)
• Loudoun County, Va.: 2 ( no bicyclist deaths / 406,850 residents / .49 deaths per 100,000 people)
• Frederick County, Md.: 0 (255,648 residents / 0 deaths per 100,000 people)

Politics aside, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service Spokesman Pete Piringer is one of the most active public information officers on Twitter. At all hours of the day and night, Piringer tweets about active emergency calls to his more than 18,000 followers. That transparency, however, can lead to misperceptions when other local governments are less forthcoming.

Still, Councilmember Glass has previously told 7 On Your Side that one death on local roads each year it too many. That is why he supports Montgomery County's ambitious Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate all fatal and serious injury traffic cases by 2030.