Md. firefighter who rescued man from burning car twice receives Emergency Services Award

(Click on the image for the ABC7 report.)

Prince George's Fire Department Battalion Chief Danny Fletcher was given the Emergency Services Award for rescuing a man from a burning car twice while off duty.
Fletcher received the award Thursday.
The firefighter was off duty and wasn't wearing protective equipment when he spotted a car in a big ball of fire and rushed to save the man earlier this month in Anne Arundel County.
Fletcher pulled the man out of the car. However, the man got up and ran back into the vehicle and locked the door. But Fletcher was able to remove the man from the car a second time. The man survived the car fire.

Council Member Monique Anderson-Walker Encourages Safe and Responsible Driving

"Sadly, we had another tragedy on 210/Indian Head Highway on February 19, 2019. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Castillo family as they mourn the loss of Juan Castillo, who leaves behind four daughters. The investigation of this accident is still underway.  On December 30, 2018, the Mejia children were killed and their parents, Alexis and Juanita Mejia, were severely injured when their vehicle was rear-ended on MD-210/Indian Head Highway. On January 24, 2019, Thomas Hawkes was indicted with three counts of vehicular manslaughter and two counts of causing serious injury by motor vehicle.
On February 12, 2019, I attended the monthly MD-210/Indian Head Highway Community Traffic Safety Meeting led by Rev. Robert L. Screen and his wife Tierney.  The standing-room only meeting included educators, officials, police officers and concerned citizens who are determined to continue advocating for their community transportation needs. Connectivity and highway safety are among my list of priorities and I look forward to working with you to encourage safe and responsible driving on County roads. My focus on MD-210/Indian Head Highway will be ongoing!"

"Hey People Stop Bending the Rules"

"The 210 international speedway is open this morning. I find myself doing 70 to try and keep up with the flow and I’m still being passed and left behind. It’s no wonder why most of these accidents on here are fatal." Ronnie Coble on 'Nightmare on 210, Feb. 21, 2019

(Click on the image for engineer Foone Turing's essay on how tiny mistakes cause huge disasters.)

"Like, think about a road: You know it's going to be a 50 MPH road, so you design it as such. You don't put sharp turns in a road where people are going 50MPH, because you know if people try to take them at 70 MPH they'll crash. And people always push the limits.

So you build your "50 MPH" road knowing people might be going 70 MPH. You design your turns & signage for that range. 

And the road opens and it works perfectly at 50MPH.

But some people go 70MPH, which is fine, you planned for that.

The police stop a few of them.

But as people go on the road and get used to it, they start going 60 MPH, just cause they can and nothing bad seems to happen. The normal becomes 60 MPH

So now the averages have shifted. You designed for 50 (with a +20MPH safety range) and now most people are doing 60 MPH, and the ones going a little fast do 70 MPH, and the ones going Extra Fast do 80 MPH.

And maybe that seems fine. The people going fast know the risks they're taking so they pay extra attention (for police cars, if nothing else).

And it's fine, for a while.

Then it rains, and what was safe at 50 MPH, borderline at 70MPH, and risky at 80 MPH is now borderline at 50MPH and risky at 60MPH and deadly at 80MPH. 

And a bunch of people crash.

And they crash because they normalized the "rules-in-practice", of "go 60, go 70 if in a hurry, go 80 if an emergency".

My point with this is not to say "HEY PEOPLE STOP BENDING THE RULES", exactly."

Man killed, several injured in crash on Indian Head Highway in Accokeek

(Click on the image for the Fox5DC report)

ACCOKEEK, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - A man was killed and several others were injured after a crash along one of the region's deadliest roadways.
Police say the crash was reported around 10 p.m. Monday on Indian Head Highway (MD-210) near Berry Road in the Accokeek area of Prince George's County.
Investigators believe two vehicles were slowing along southbound Indian Head Highway to turn at Berry Road when a third vehicle struck the second vehicle from behind. The impact, investigators say, caused the second vehicle to strike the first vehicle.
A passenger in the second vehicle was killed, police say. The driver of the second vehicle and the driver of the striking vehicle were hospitalized, officials say. The injuries to the person in the first vehicle are considered minor. The crash remains under investigation.
Indian Head Highway has the negative reputation as being one of the most dangerous roads in the region. A crash in December of last year along a stretch of the road in Oxon Hill left three children dead. In January, at least six vehicles were involved in a major crash near the intersection of Livingston Road.
FOX 5's Melanie Alnwick says since the beginning of 2019 law enforcement officers have issued over 3,500 traffic citations and have made at least 15 DUI arrest in the area of the highway. Road improvements to increase visibility and reduce speed have recently been made.
Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski was at the scene of the crash and urged motorists to practice safe driving habits when behind the wheel. "I need my community, please, please, slow down, buckle up and put the phone away. That's my message once again -- slow down, buckle up, and please put the phone away," Stawinski said.
At this time there is one speed camera on Indian Head Highway at the intersection of Old Fort Road in the Friendly, Md. area and law makers have said they will push for more.

News4 at 5 coverage
Fox5DC at 11 coverage

Spike in Marijuana-Impaired Driving in Maryland

(Click on the image for the News4 report)

Spike in Marijuana-Impaired Driving in Maryland, Police Say (News4)

By Scott MacFarlane, Rick Yarborough and Steve Jones, Feb. 18, 2019

• Maryland State Police told the I-Team they have increased their training for troopers in detecting drug impairment during traffic stops. Though police did not directly link the increase in incidents to decriminalization of the drug, law enforcement officials said marijuana can significantly impair a driver’s abilities behind the wheel.
• The number of vehicle crashes investigated by Maryland State Police that were linked to marijuana nearly doubled from 2017 to 2018. Over the same time period, the number of traffic violations linked to marijuana jumped by nearly 40 percent.
• “There’s a perception that marijuana does not impair you like alcohol. That’s not true. You’re impaired,” said Mary Gaston, whose son was struck and killed by a driver who was under the influence of medicinal marijuana.
• Colorado State Police told the I-Team they’ve seen a 74 percent increase in fatal crashes in the time since the state decriminalized marijuana in 2013. “Marijuana has been a part of that,” a trooper from Colorado said.

Area traffic crashes and fatalities a ‘serious public health issue’

(Click on the image for Kristi King's WTOP report)

• Highway safety in the D.C. area is a “public health issue,” according to a local leader frustrated by steady year-over-year increases in traffic crashes, and a recent 45.76 percent jump in drunken driving fatalities.
• “There’s nothing really to cheer about with respect to highway safety in this region,” former chair of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, David Snyder said.
• Snyder notes the number of yearly crashes has risen from 52,318 in 2010 to 88,276 in 2017, “as result of ignoring the laws, driving too fast for conditions, being distracted, failure to wear seat belts — and as we’ve heard from these reports, we really haven’t won the war against driving under the influence either.”
• “This is a serious public health issue, and the region needs to focus on this more than we have done so far,” Snyder said. “And it’s not just government — it’s each and every person out there on the roads.”
• Maryland lawmakers are now considering legislation to make repeat drunk driving a felony punishable up to ten years. This is the third year in a row Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has proposed the Repeat Drunk Driving Offenders Act.

Four Wheels Stolen - Capitol Hill Problem Happens Here Too

(Click on the image for Meagan Fitzgerald's News4 report)

And when you replace the stolen wheels, the thieves come back to get your brand-new wheels!

Community Demands Changes to Indian Head Highway

(Click on the image for Jackie Bensen's News4 report)

Also, from Michelle Basch (WTOP):
As promised, police ticket drivers on Indian Head Highway at furious pace
WASHINGTON — Following a December crash that left three children dead, the latest in a long string of tragedies, Prince George’s County police promised more enforcement along Indian Head Highway.
Not even a month and a half into the new year, they are delivering on that pledge.
So far in 2019, the department has handed out more than 3,000 tickets along Route 210. Last year, 10,000 tickets were issues in total.
“What we really need to do is change driver behavior,” 7th District Commander Major Timothy Muldoon said at a community meeting Monday night in Fort Washington. “Warnings are great, but I don’t think anything sends a message and changes driver behavior like writing a ticket.”
A DUI checkpoint set up last Thursday on Route 210 was announced in advance, but still got results.
“In that effort they got 5 DUIs, which for a checkpoint is pretty high,” Muldoon said, adding that heavy fog forced police to shut down the checkpoint early and patrol the area in general.
Fifteen DUI arrests have been made along Indian Head Highway so far this year. Muldoon said that this week, his department is teaming up with state troopers to do some more enforcement.
“Maryland State police is going to come down and assist us with some patrols along the 210 corridor.”
Muldoon is telling officers to make their presence felt on Indian Head Highway, and write tickets. And he is joining them in the effort.
“I’ll be out there writing tickets, so if you see my black SUV don’t go zipping by it, because I have my ticket book … on my front seat,” he said.

An old tax scam — with a troubling new twist

(Click on the image for Michelle Singletary's Washington Post report)

[Michelle wrote this last year but it is relevant in this tax season.]

• Cybercriminals steal people’s data from tax professionals, including routing and bank account numbers. The crooks file fraudulent tax returns. Fake refunds are then direct deposited into taxpayers’ real bank accounts.
• In one version of this scam, the criminals then contact victims claiming to be from a debt-collection agency, and they say the refunds were deposited in error. They claim they are now trying to get the refund back for the IRS.
• In another version of this racket, a taxpayer gets a menacing recorded telephone message about the deposited refund. Someone claiming to be from the IRS threatens the person with arrest, criminal fraud charges and a warning that his or her Social Security number will be “blacklisted.” People are given a case number and then a telephone number to call to arrange the return of the refund, the IRS said.

Prince George's County police cracking down on Indian Head Highway

(Click on the image for Lindsay Watts' Fox5DC report)

ACCOKEEK, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - Prince George’s County police set up a DUI checkpoint on Indian Head Highway (Rt. 210) Thursday night, part of a larger effort to improve safety on one of the most dangerous roads in the region.
After three children were killed in a December crash in Oxon Hill caused by an alleged drunk driver, police and lawmakers vowed to take action.
Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said Thursday that just in the first 37 days of the new year, police made 25 arrests – 10 for drunk driving – and issued more than 3,000 traffic citations on the highway. That doesn’t include numbers from Thursday.
To put that in perspective, there were around  10,000 citations in all of last year.
Prior to the crash that killed the three children, Yasmin Duncan’s daughter, Samira Jenkins, was also killed on Indian Head Highway in Oxon Hill.
The 24-year-old was crossing the road from her home to catch the bus to a job interview.
Duncan says she was devastated to learn that another family had suffered such loss.
“My heart goes out,” Duncan said. “I think about the parents all the time and pray for them. I know what they’re going through, but to lose all three of their babies -- I can’t imagine.”
She says while there were improvements made to the intersection where her daughter was hit, Duncan doesn’t feel enough was done to improve safety after her daughter’s death. She believes steps being taken now are overdue.
This week, the Prince George’s County council made Indian Head Highway a top priority for transportation projects. The county has requested state funding to create more interchanges along the road to improve congestion.
Del. Kriselda Valderrama (D-Prince George’s Co.) co-sponsored a bill that got the first speed camera on the highway, and she’s now sponsored a new bill that would put multiple speed cameras on the road. The bill has passed its first committee hearing and is up for a second hearing on Friday.
“I think definitely the speed cameras are probably one of the most significant things that can help to reduce speed,” Duncan said.
She hopes that more people will join the fight.
“Please become aware. Reach out to your Senators, your Congressmen, your councilmen to try to make changes,” she said. “I know there’s so many dangerous roads in Maryland, but 210 is truly, truly just a death highway and we need support of our Maryland residents to make changes.”

Chief Stawinski Announces Crackdown on Disability Parking Placard Crimes

Prince George’s County Police will be targeting criminals who steal disability parking placards out of vehicles and sell them and will be arresting those who buy the stolen hanging signs.   Officers recovered nearly one dozen stolen disability parking placards during a recent traffic stop. The driver, 23-year-old Darius Tyson of no fixed address, was arrested.  Preliminarily, our investigation revealed he had targeted parked vehicles in Temple Hills including a parking lot at a senior living facility.  Unfortunately, criminals are targeting these placards far too often. Since last July, we’ve received reports of 192 placards stolen out of parked vehicles.  In 70% of those cases, victims’ car windows were smashed in order to snatch the placard.

 “The stealing of disability parking placards is most egregious because of who the thieves are targeting.  All property crimes can affect the victims deeply.  It costs money to repair any damages and there’s time away from work while dealing with insurance claims and getting lives back in order.  That’s why I am launching a department-wide effort to crackdown on these placard thefts and all property crimes.  Our residents should be able to walk out of their homes into a safe community with an expectation of a high quality of life.  No one should walk out to their car and discover a window was broken by a thief and that the placard they need for easier parking access is now gone.  The thieves and the people who purchase these stolen items must be stopped.  I am asking for our entire community to organize with us as we fight back against property crime.” said Chief Stawinski, Prince George’s County Police.

COPS officers assigned to each of our district stations will begin targeted enforcement by ensuring handicapped placards they see are not reported stolen and are with their rightful owner. If a placard is found to be stolen, detectives will work to investigate not only who stole the placard but also who may have acquired the stolen property.
We are asking the community to assist us by displaying the placards whenever required by law or ordnance, for instance, a designated disability parking space.  Otherwise, if you park in a spot where display of the placard is NOT required, please tuck the placard out-of-sight inside your vehicle.  Also, please keep a record of the registration number located on your disability parking placard in a separate location, so, if it is ever stolen, you have the number to provide to law enforcement when you report it stolen.
Last year, the County saw a 10% decrease in overall property crime and, with your help, together, we will keep making a difference.
If you have any information that could help arrest those responsible for these type of crimes, please call detectives at 301-772-4911 or if you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), text, “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go towww.pgcrimesolvers.com and submit a tip online.

See Darcy Spencer and Gina Cook's News4 report.

PGPD to Conduct DUI Checkpoint on Indian Head Highway

This Thursday, the Prince George’s County Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Indian Head Highway.  The targeted effort will be led by our Special Operations Division and is one of many tools we are using to enhance safety on this heavily-travelled roadway.
Since January 1, 2019, officers have arrested 10 people for driving under the influence and issued more than 3,000 citations to drivers on Route 210. That is more than 3,000 citations in just 37 days. 

Please never drive while under the influence. The consequences are not worth the risk.

Prince George's Seeks State Help for Route 210 Upgrades

(Click on the image for a News4 report)

"Indian Head Highway (Route 210) has been the site of multiple deadly crashes. County lawmakers are seeking state funding for safety upgrades that could take 30 years and cost as much as $500 million."

• MD 210-Palmer/Livingston and Oxon Hill/Old Fort Rd interchanges are at the top of the County's transportation construction priority list.
• The next MD 210 Safety Meeting will be Feb 11, 7 pm, at the District VII Police Station.

Surviving the Autobahn: Ten guidelines

(Click on the image for the report)

1. Know the limit
We hate to break the cold, hard truth, but contrary to popular belief, there really are–believe it or not–speed limits on the Autobahn. Even though many places allow drivers to pick whatever speed they feel comfortable at, many stretches of blacktop may require you to slow your roll. Construction sites and motorway junctions are classic examples of reduced speed areas. And most of them are swarming with traffic police who unflinchingly hand out tickets, even to aggravated tourists who insist “There are no speed limits on the Autobahn and everybody knows that!” Knowing the limit also implies a realistic assessment of your own driving abilities. Just because your rental car packs enough horse power to go close to 300 km/h (that’s almost 200 mph, folks) does not mean you can control this kind of speed. Especially if the speed limit back home is around 120 km/h [75 mph].
10. Do as the Romans do
Generally speaking, newcomers are best advised to stay with traffic and emulate what the locals are doing. If suddenly everyone goes out of their way to follow the speed limit – even those wanna-be formula one pilots in the left lane – you can bet there’s a radar speed check just around the corner. Oh wait… too late! Say cheese. (FLASH!) [Click on the image for rules 2 through 9.]

From The New York Times: The number of deadly accidents on stretches of autobahn that have a speed limit are 26 percent lower than on those without.

In 2017, 409 people died on the autobahn and in almost half the cases, the reason was inappropriate speeding, according to the German statistics office.

Five Children Killed In Prince George’s Co. Crash

(Click on the image for the Fox5DC video)

From the Maryland State Police news release:

• The deceased are identified as London Dixon, 8, and Paris Dixon, 5, both from Bowie, Md., and Zion Beard, 14, Rickelle Ricks, 6, and Damari Herald, 15, all from Washington, D.C.  Each of the deceased was pronounced dead at the scene.
• Those injured who survived the crash are identified as Dominique R. Taylor, 32, of Bowie, Md. and Cornell D. Simon, 23, of Oxon Hill, Md.  Taylor has been identified as the driver of the vehicle.  Simon is believed to have been a passenger in the right front seat.
• Investigators believe preliminary evidence indicates the driver and front seat passenger were wearing seat belts.  Based on preliminary evidence, investigators do not believe the five children were properly restrained in the vehicle at the time of the crash.  The children are believed to have been positioned in the rear seats of the vehicle.

General Assembly Committee Votes in Favor of New MD 210 Speed Camera Bill

(Click on the image for the video clip)