Howard County police are trying to curb traffic fatalities with the help of bold red, black and white signs and simple messages.
“Enforcement isn?t our only option here,” Howard Police Chief Bill McMahon said. “We really need to change the mind-set, the culture, of our drivers.”
Police announced a public safety campaign Monday to remind drivers to slow down, wear seat belts and not drink and drive.
The 2-by-2-foot signs ? with six messages like “One more drink. One more decision. One more dead.” ? will hang in schools, libraries, shopping centers, Howard Community College, Howard County General Hospital and other locations around the county.
The signs may make their way to problem roads, pending approval by the county or state, police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said.
“This is an attempt to get people thinking about their behavior,” County Executive Ken Ulman said.
The campaign was planned well before the June 18 death of Cpl. Scott Wheeler, a Howard County police officer who was struck by a vehicle he was trying to stop for a speeding violations.
But his death underscores the need for this campaign, McMahon said.
“He was out there trying to slow motorists down,” he said of Wheeler.
The department started the effort with a $10,000 grant from the Horizon Foundation, a philanthropy dedicated to improving health and wellness in Howard.
Police have spent about half of the money and hope to include the campaign in the annual budget, McMahon said.
The Horizon Foundation began working with the police department last year to research and design the messages. The bold posters will help raise awareness, Horizon Foundation President Rich Krieg said.
“You have to have a full-court press,” he said. “You have to break through the static.”
With time, police hope the signs will become a recognizable reminder for Howard residents and those traveling through the county, McMahon said. About 1,000 signs have been printed and are expected to make their debut in coming weeks.
The campaign also will ultimately include stickers, handout cards at traffic checkpoints and radio announcements, Llewellyn said.
BY THE NUMBERS
Fatal collisions
» 2007: Seven collisions ? five of which were alcohol-related
» 2006: 19 ? eight alcohol-related
» 2005: 21 ? 12 alcohol-related
Driving under the influence
» Since 2003, 34 people have died in alcohol-related collisions in Howard.
» In 2005, 41 percent of the alcohol-related fatal collisions in Howard happened on roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less.
Speed
» Since 1996, speeding was a factor in more than 25 percent of all crashes in Howard.
» Aggressive-driving crashes increased 45 percent from 2004 to 2005 in Maryland.
Seat belts
» In 2005, Howard police officers issued more than 5,800 seat belt citations.
» In 2006, the seat belt usage rate in Howard was 97 percent. In Maryland, it was 91 percent.
» Seat belts reduce the risk of moderate or critical injuries by 50 percent.
Source: Howard County Police Dept.
