About
The Program
Since 2002, The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' Street Smart program has worked to protect vulnerable road users by raising awareness about pedestrian and bicycle safety. The region-wide public safety campaign educates drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists on about safe use of roadways in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
The campaign integrates several components, including broadcast and outdoor advertising, media relations, digital media, and outreach events. It is meant to complement, not replace, the efforts of state and local governments and agencies to build safer streets and sidewalks, enforce laws, and train better drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Year in Review
View the highlights and results from Street Smart's safety outreach and education efforts during the 2020 fiscal year.
Crash Statistics:
Even 1 Death Is Too Many
Nationwide Facts
Deaths (2022)
0
0
Pedestrians
Cyclists
Estimated Injuries (2022)
0
0
Pedestrians
Cyclists
Regional Facts (2023 Preliminary Data)
Deaths
0
0
Pedestrians
Cyclists
30% of all traffic
fatalities
Pedestrians and bicyclists made up 30 percent of the 393 traffic fatalities in the Washington region in 2023.
Enforcement
Street Smart's public awareness efforts are conducted in conjunction with increased law enforcement "waves," in which police put an added emphasis on enforcing their presence and the existing laws regarding roadway safety. This multi-pronged strategy that has been shown to compound public safety campaign results and positively affect behavior.
The TPB and police department partners have stepped up efforts to share resources and information on best practices in pedestrian enforcement. A standardized enforcement reporting form has improved our knowledge of the number and types of citations being issued. Learn the laws.
Evaluation & Reporting
Each year Street Smart conducts surveys to measure awareness and attitudes among drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Detailed post-campaign reporting also includes impressions and engagement via paid media, donated media, news coverage, digital efforts, and outreach.
To read a summary of all results from the fiscal year 2020, please download the annual report (PDF, 10.4MB).
Previous annual reports:
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
For more information on the Street Smart program contact Michael Farrell, Program Manager at mfarrell@mwcog.org or 202-962-3760.