Gaithersburg Police Conduct Pedestrian Sting In Kentlands, Offer Bike Safety Tips

Gaithersburg police officers stopped about 100 vehicles in one hour for violations during an educational pedestrian sting in Kentlands last week, The Gazette reported.

Conducted at the intersection of Market Street and Center Point Way, officers used a handful of volunteers in bright yellow T-shirts to act as pedestrian decoys, according to the report.

Drivers were warned after officers saw them driving without wearing seat belts, not yielding to pedestrians and not stopping at the marked line at a stop sign, Gaithersburg police officer Dan Lane told The Gazette.

Gaithersburg officials are also warning bicyclists to remain cautious while riding. A combined 43 vehicle accidents involved a bicyclist during 2011 and 2012 in Montgomery County's 6th police district, Capt. Thomas Didone told Patch.

None of the incidents resulted in a fatality.

Gaithersburg police offered the following safety tips for bicyclists:

• All bicyclists should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride. A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.
• Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators; they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. When cycling in the street, cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists. Be courteous—allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road, look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space, and yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals. Be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.
• Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, dawn and dusk. To be noticed when riding at night, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.

Read the full story about the education pedestrian sting on The Gazette.